Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared a nationwide "state of lawlessness" Saturday, after suspected Abu Sayyaf elements detonated a bomb that killed 14 people and wounded about 70 in his southern hometown.

Duterte, who inspected the scene of Friday night's attack at a night market in downtown Davao city, said his declaration did not amount to an imposition of martial law. Rather, it would allow troops to be deployed in urban centers to back up the police in setting up checkpoints and increasing patrols, he said An Abu Sayyaf spokesman claimed responsibility for the blast near the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Davao University and a five-star hotel, but Duterte said investigators were looking at other possible suspects. 

Source : XINHUA