Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared a “state of lawlessness” Saturday after suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists detonated a bomb that killed 14 people and wounded about 70 in his southern hometown. The militants threatened to launch an unspecified attack after the military said 30 of the gunmen were killed in the weeklong offensive. Some commanders of the Abu Sayyaf, which is blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organisation for deadly bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings, have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the bomb appeared to have been made from a mortar round and doctors reported many of the victims had shrapnel wounds. Despite the emergency, Duterte said he would proceed with a trip to Brunei, Laos and Indonesia starting on Sunday.

Source: Dhaka Tribune September 03, 2016 02:48 UTC