Duterte, saying the explosion was an act of terrorism, authorized the police and military to search cars and frisk people at checkpoints, the PNA said.
He put the nation under a “state of lawlessness,” saying he has not declared martial law and has not suspended the writ of habeas corpus, the PNA said.
Rodrigo Duterte promised to fight drug dealers
“We have to confront the ugly head of terrorism,” Duterte said, standing near the explosion site on Roxas Avenue in Davao City, his hometown.
“We will take this as a police matter about terrorism.”
The explosion happened around 10 p.m. Friday (10 a.m. ET) at the Roxas night market near Ateneo de Davao University, said Chief Inspector Catherine Dela Rey, spokeswoman for Davao City Police.
The market is known to attract thousands.
The cause of the blast is not known, but presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said components of a suspected improved explosive device were found at the scene, according to CNN affiliate ABS-CBN. — CNN
