5 hurt in Davao City twin blasts

MANILA, Philippines - Two bombs exploded inside the movie houses of two shopping malls in Davao City on Monday night, leaving five people hurt.

Police said the twin explosions struck Cinema 5 of the Gaisano Mall and Cinema 1 of SM. The five injured victims were all inside the Gaisano Mall cinema.

The authorities said took place at around 10 p.m., and almost all of the moviegoers in both cinemas have already gone out.

Initial reports said that the bombs used in the two explosions were improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Police have yet to determine how the bombs were smuggled into the malls. Investigators were still reviewing the malls' security cameras.

The explosions happened even as the entire police force in the city had been placed on alert due to the hostilities in Zamboanga City, where several members  of the Misuari-led faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have been holed up for eight days.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said in a press conference upon his arrival in Manila that the explosions would not have happened if not for the lax security measures being implemented in the two malls.

Duterte also said that the bombings could not have been a handiwork of Misuari's group.

He said that he called up MNLF leader Nur Misuari on Tuesday morning and inquired if his group had something to do with the blasts.

“I am convinced of his assurance. The MNLF has nothing to do with the incidents. And I believe that there is a third force which is behind this,” he said.