DND places all AFP commands on high alert after Davao City blast

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 3): DND places all AFP commands on high alert after Davao City blast

With the death toll in the Davao City explosion now at 14 and around 60 wounded, the Department of National Defense (DND) has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to place all its commands on high alert Saturday.

"I have directed all commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to be on high alert especially in urban centers for possible other terroristic act attempts by this group. The Eastern Command in Davao city has been directed to assist the PNP in maintaining peace and order in Davao City and in the apprehension of the perpetrators.. They will also aid in gathering intelligence information and in conducting investigations to get to the bottom of this unfortunate incident," DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

In the same vein, the DND chief assumes the attack was carried out by members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who has suffered heavy casualties in the ongoing military offensive in Sulu province for the past week.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. While nobody has come up to own the act we can only assume that this was perpetrated by the terrorist group Abu Sayaff that has suffered heavy casualties in Jolo in the past weeks," he added.

"We have predicted this and has warned our troops accordingly but the enemy is also adept at using the democratic space granted by our constitution to move around freely and unimpeded to sow terror," the DND chief stressed.

Lorenzana said the entire DND laments this unfortunate incident and extends its sympathy to those who were killed in the blast, and prays for those injured.

"We appeal to our citizens to remain calm but alert and vigilant, and cooperate with our security forces," he added.

Around 10 p.m. Friday, an explosion of still-undetermined origin rocked the night market on Roxas Avenue at the corner of Padre Gomez St. in Davao City, killing 14 and wounding some 60 others.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=919701