MANILA, Sept. 3 (PNA) — The Palace has asked the public to stay calm following the bomb attack in Davao City Friday night, which led to the death of 14 persons and wounding scores of other civilians.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella advised the public to avoid making speculations and avoid posting unfounded information on social media.

“It is best that the populace refrain from reckless speculation and avoid crowded places. There is no cause for alarm but it is wise to be cautious,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a “state of lawless violence” in the entire country, to allow him, as Commander-in-Chief of law enforcement units, to call on them to suppress lawlessness.

Abella said that attached to the declaration, there will be checkpoints to be established in various corners of the country, as a deterrent measure against terror groups that sow criminality.

“We ask everyone to cooperate. When passing a checkpoint, let us turn off our headlights and turn on the light inside the vehicle to allow our law enforcers to perform their jobs,” he said.

“It is for our own safety. The government is doing its best but the unity and cooperation of everybody is necessary to fight the terrorists and to cleanse the country of criminality.”

He also called on the people to be vigilant and to report to authorities any information about people sowing crimes.

Earlier, Communication Secretary Martin Andanar has confirmed that there are reports of assassination plots against President Duterte.

“Aside from efforts of the government troops to protect the President, it would even be better if the people could act as ‘neighborhood watch’ to gather information at the community level to help ensure his safety,” he said.

Such efforts would allow the President to pursue the programs beneficial to the nation and the future generation, he added.

DEATH TOLL

The President has been waging a war on illegal drugs and has ordered the military to destroy the Abu Sayyaf Group, after it recently beheaded a Filipino teenager following his family’s failure to pay a PHP1 million ransom demand.

The number of persons injured in the explosion at the Roxas night market here has been put at 71. Earlier reports put the fatalities at 14.

Davao City police spokesperson Chief Insp. Catherine dela Rey, said that as of 2:51 a.m. Saturday, 28 of the wounded were undergoing treatment at SPMC; 29 at the San Pedro Hospital; Limso – 1, Brokenshire -1; Davao Doctor’s – 8; and Davao Medical School Foundation – 4.

Dela Rey further said that they have no initial finding on the type of explosive device used.

She said investigations are still ongoing. (PNA)