Blast kills at least 10 in Philippine leader’s hometown

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines

An explosion has rocked a night market in a southern Philippines city from which President Rodrigo Duterte hails, killing at least 10 people late Friday.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella was quoted by the Sun.Star website as saying that the confirmed number of fatalities in Davao City -- where Duterte served 22 years as mayor -- stood at 10 while 60 others were injured.

C/Insp. Milgrace Driz of Davao City Police had earlier told GMA News that 25 people were reported dead at the Southern Philippines Medical Center

"We are now locking down Davao City with checkpoints," she said.

Davao City police spokeswoman Sen. Insp. Catherine dela Rey said the explosion took place at around 10.20 p.m. (0220GMT).

Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte -- the son of the president who was paying his usual weekend visit to the city -- rushed to the site shortly after along with Presidential Executive Staff Bong Go.

They instructed the public to return to their homes and ordered that nearby bars and venues close for the night.

"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," the younger Duterte said in a statement.

“There are at least 10 people who perished because of the incident and a number were reported wounded,” he added.

"Rest assured the authorities are on top of this incident. Right now, we cannot yet give definite answer to as to who is behind this as we are also trying to determine what really exploded.”

A police investigation is ongoing into the incident, which came just days after police announced they had thwarted a plot to assassinate President Duterte.

Security forces in southern Mindanao island have been tightening security in past days after Daesh-linked militants threatened to launch attacks amid an intensified military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf group.