Philippines bombing

This item appears on page 18 of the November 2016 issue.

A bombing at a marketplace in Davao, Mindanao, Philippines, killed 15 people and wounded more than 60 others on Sept. 2. The bombing coincided with a visit to the city by the country’s president, Rodrigo Duterte, but he was not targeted. Davao is Duterte’s home city, and its mayor is his son. 

Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf claimed responsibility for the bomb. Known for kidnapping and targeting civilians in attacks, Abu Sayyaf has been fighting a civil war in the southern Philippines since the early 2000s. On Aug. 29, 12 Filipino soldiers were killed in Mindanao during a military action against Abu Sayyaf.