P2-million reward up for arrest of Davao bombers

MANILA, Philippines — The Davao City government on Monday set a P2-million bounty for individuals who can provide leads to identify and arrest the perpetrators of Friday night's market blast in President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, the president's daughter, said the government wants to see the suspects alive so it could still squeeze out valuable information from them.

"We want to talk to him and find out who ordered the bombing and why it was carried out. We want to know who his cohorts are, their group, and their other terror plans," she added.

Duterte-Carpio said the business sector in Davao City helped her raise the P1 million of the total amount since their businesses were also threatened by the night market bombing.

Last Friday, an explosion occurred at a night market along Roxas Street in the southern city. The blast left 14 people dead and 70 others injured.

Duterte-Carpio said that the perpetrators used improvised explosive device.

"It was meant to kill," she said. "It was an explosive. It was clearly an act of terrorism."

Duterte-Carpio announced the bounty offer after she visited the wake of one of the victims Kristia Gaile Bisnon. Bisnon, 27, who once served as the mayor's private nurse when she experienced complications in her pregnancy. The mayor is pregnant with triplets.

Bisnon's remains were brought to her hometown in Tacurong City. — Rosette Adel