'Duterte city' blast kills 12 in Philippines

Dubai/Davao - "Right now, we cannot yet give definite answer to questions as to who is behind this."

At least 12 people were killed and around 60 injured after an explosion rocked Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's home city of Davao on Friday night, according to residents.
The blast happened at a crowded night market on Roxas Avenue, 100 metres from Ateneo de Davao University where Duterte studied in high school and four kilometres from his residence in Dona Luisa Phase 1 subdivision, Tyrone Velez, a Davao City journalist told Khaleej Times.
The cause of the explosion was still unknown as at press time. It happened after the national police force thwarted an assassination plot against President Duterte, who usually flies home to Davao City every weekend. "The night market is a prime target as it is highly-populated during weekend nights. There was an alert two weeks ago during the Kadayawan Festival and it was advised to keep the alert because of Daesh threat," Velez said.
"Right now, we cannot yet give definite answer to questions as to who is behind this as we are also trying to determine what really exploded," the president's son and Davao City vice-mayor, Paolo Duterte, said in a statement.
The vice-mayor confirmed the death of "at least" 10 people. Two died in hospital later.
"Let us pray for the victims of this unfortunate incident, especially for those who died. Let us pray for those who are being treated in different hospitals and pray for their quick recovery."
Khalej Times also talked to Dubai-based Filipino expat Mau Arevalo who said she is waiting for news from her relatives back home.
Davao is the biggest city in the southern Philippines, with a population of about two million people. It is about 1,500km from the capital of Manila.
Duterte had been mayor of Davao for most of the past two decades, before winning the national elections in a landslide this year and being sworn in as president on June 30.
Muslim militants and communist rebels have carried out deadly attacks in Davao, however authorities stressed it was too early to determine the cause of Friday's blast.
angel@khaleejtimes.com