At least 14 people were killed and scores were injured in a deadly blast that occurred at the popular night market in President Rodrigo Duterte's home city of Davao in southern Philippines.
A spokesperson for the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Senior Inspector Catherine Dela Rey said the explosion took place around 10 pm at the Roxas night market near Ateneo de Davao University. He also added that authorities are still investigating the cause of the blast but there is no information yet.
The official Philippines News Agency (PNA) reported that Duterte said the explosion was an act of terrorism and he authorised the police and military to search cars and frisk people at checkpoints.
Duterte placed the nation under a "state of lawlessness," and said "he has not declared martial law and has not suspended the writ of habeas corpus".
Although no group has claimed responsibility yet but Duterte said, "it's possible the explosion could be a reprisal from extremists".
Standing near the explosion site on Roxas Avenue in Davao, Duterte told PNA: "We have to confront the ugly head of terrorism. We will take this as a police matter about terrorism."
According to CNN affiliate ABS-CBN, the presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said components of a suspected improved explosive device were found at the scene of the blast.
