Issued by the Office of the Chairperson
International Coordinating Committee
International League of Peoples’ Struggle
Published: 04 September 2016
http://ilps.info/index.php/en/statements/ilps-chairperson/2111-ilps-condemns-terrorist-bombing-in-davao
We, the International League of Peoples’ Struggle, condemn in the strongest terms the abhorrent bombing of the night market in Roxas Avenue, Davao City at 9 pm, September 2, which claimed the lives of 15 civilians and critically injured 67 others.
We express the most heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of the fatal and wounded victims, all survivors of the incident and the people of Davao City and the entire Philippine. We call on all the member-organizations and allies of ILPS-Philippines to extend all possible forms of support and assistance to the families of the victims and fight the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
According to reliable sources, initial investigations have found similarities of the explosive device used on Friday’s bombing to the explosives found in the wreck of CIA agent Michael Mehring’s hotel room in Davao City and the ones used in the Davao International Airport and the Sasa Wharf bombings in March and April 2003 respectively.
A group associated with the Abu Sayyaf has admitted responsibility for the bombing, the worst since 2003. The Abu Sayyaf is a terrorist organization of several hundreds of armed personnel. It was originally organized by the US Central Intelligence Agency and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to serve as a counter to the Moro National Liberation Front.
There are indications and estimates that the CIA and anti-Duterte elements in the AFP have been urged by the Aquino yellow faction of the oligarchy and by the drug lords in government positions to supply the sophisticated explosive device and direct a team of the Abu Sayyaf to carry out the bombing.
On its own account, the Abu Sayyaf is enraged by the military campaign against it and by the peace overtures of Duterte to the MILF and MNLF. The Duterte government has ordered the all-out military campaign against the terrorist group for kidnapping foreigners and beheading them upon failure of their families and governments to pay ransom.
The US and several reactionary factions are incensed by the friendly gestures of President Duterte to the revolutionary forces and by the rapid progress of peace negotiation between his government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. The US and disgruntled elements in the AFP are not above engaging in black operations to discredit and undermine the Duterte government.
