Explosion på Filippinerna 2016-09-02

Although it is considered a relatively safe city, Davao is located on the island of Mindanao, the heart of the separatist movement of the Moro people, who espouse Islam. Duterte has promised to reach a diplomatic compromise with the movement, but has also threatened retribution against those forces who use violence.

Upon the Spaniards' arrival to the Philippines, they were dismayed to find such a strong Muslim presence on the island, having just expelled the Moors from Spain after centuries of fighting under the Reconquista. In fact, the name Moros (the Spanish word for "Moors") was given to the Muslim inhabitants by the Spanish.[5][7] Caesarea Caroli was the name given by Villalobos to the island of Mindanao when he reached the sea near it. This was named after Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire (and I of Spain).

No group has claimed responsibility, but Duterte said it's possible the explosion "could be a reprisal" from extremists.

Philippine's National Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana said he "assumes" the attack was carried out by the Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf.

Duterte, the longtime mayor of Davao City, was elected President in May. He campaigned on a no-nonsense approach to crime and launched an intense -- and deadly -- crackdown on drug dealers.

The group aims to establish an independent Islamic state on the southern island of Mindanao, where Davao City is located.

Abu Sayyaf is a violent extremist group that split from established Philippines separatist movement Moro National Liberation Front in 1991. It was formed by Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, who trained in the Middle East and reportedly met with al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

“This only further reinforced our theory of narco-terrorism because before the blast happened, we have received information that some narco-personalities in Central Mindanao are funding or financing this bombing operation,” said Dela Rosa.

Earlier, Dela Rosa said some drug lords made an alliance with local terrorist groups in Central Mindanao to carry out bombings aimed at diverting the government’s attention away from the ongoing anti-drugs war.

“In short, they (narco-personalities) are the mastermind, they are the ones funding the terror attack,” said dela Rosa.