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2016 Davao City bombing

SOLVED2016Roxas Night Market, Roxas Avenue, Davao City, Philippines3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Archival record

On the night of September 2, 2016, an improvised explosive device detonated at approximately 22:17 local time at the Roxas Night Market on Roxas Avenue in Davao City's central business district, near the main campus of Ateneo de Davao University. The blast killed at least 14 people and injured 70 others; a pregnant woman among the injured died on September 13, 2016, raising the death toll to 15. Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa confirmed the incident as a terror attack involving an IED at a command conference the following night.

The bombing occurred amid heightened security concerns in Davao City. Weeks earlier, on July 7, 2016, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte had announced threats from the Islamic State, prompting increased security. President Rodrigo Duterte had also ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to act against Abu Sayyaf after the group beheaded an 18-year-old hostage on August 22, 2016. Paolo Duterte later disclosed he had received a bomb threat two days before the attack warning of a strike in either General Santos or Davao City but had not made it public per the message's instructions.

Responsibility for the attack was initially claimed by the militant group Abu Sayyaf, which later denied involvement and instead attributed the bombing to an allied group, the Daulat Ul-Islamiya, described as acting in sympathy with Abu Sayyaf. Disgruntled vendors at the night market were also considered as possible perpetrators. Investigators noted similarities between the IED used and one deployed in the 2005 Valentine's Day bombings, prompting suspicion that a figure connected to the earlier attack might be involved. Police identified several "persons of interest" based on witness accounts, including a man seen leaving a bag under a massage table.

On October 4, 2016, three men with alleged links to the Maute group—identified as TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Apostol Facturan, and Musali Mustapha—were arrested; seven other suspects remained at large at the time. On September 29, 2020, the Regional Trial Court of Taguig, through Judge Marivic Vitor, convicted eleven men of murder for the deaths of 15 people and attempted murder for the injuries of 69 others. Seven of the convicted—Macabalang, Facturan, Mustapha, Jessy Vincent Original, Zack Haron Lopez, Jackson Usi, and Ausa Abdullah Mamasapano—were in custody at sentencing, while four others—Abubakar Zulkipli, Datu Masla Sema, Mohammad Abdul Jabbar Sema, and Pendatun Coy Maruhom—were convicted in absentia. All eleven received sentences of reclusión perpetua with a minimum term of 20 years and were ordered to pay compensation to victims' families.

In the aftermath, President Duterte declared a state of emergency on account of lawless violence and placed Davao City under lockdown, granting the military expanded law-enforcement authority without suspending habeas corpus. The Davao City Government offered a 3-million-peso reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators. International governments, including the United States, expressed condolences and offered investigative assistance, while several countries issued travel advisories.

Key facts

Victims
On file
Date
2016
Location
Roxas Night Market, Roxas Avenue, Davao City, Philippines
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2016-07-07

    Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte announces threats from the Islamic State, prompting increased security in the city.

  2. 2016-08-22

    Abu Sayyaf beheads an 18-year-old hostage after ransom was not paid.

  3. 2016-08-28

    President Rodrigo Duterte orders the Armed Forces of the Philippines to capture and eliminate Abu Sayyaf members.

  4. 2016-09-02

    Bombing occurs at the Roxas Night Market in Davao City around 22:17, killing at least 14 and injuring 70.

  5. 2016-09-13

    A pregnant woman injured in the blast dies, raising the death toll to 15.

  6. 2016-10-04

    Three men linked to the Maute group are arrested in connection with the bombing.

  7. 2016-10-07

    The three arrested suspects are presented to the media.

  8. 2020-09-29

    Regional Trial Court of Taguig convicts 11 men of murder and attempted murder for the bombing, sentencing them to reclusión perpetua.

Best coverage

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People

  • Mohammad Abdul Jabbar Sema

    CONVICTED

    Convicted in absentia of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing.

  • TJ Tagadaya Macabalang

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.

  • Marivic Vitor

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Regional Trial Court judge in Taguig who handed down the September 2020 convictions.

  • Wendel Apostol Facturan

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.

  • Jessy Vincent Original

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.

  • Abubakar Zulkipli

    CONVICTED

    Convicted in absentia of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing.

  • Musali Mustapha

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.

  • Pendatun Coy Maruhom

    CONVICTED

    Convicted in absentia of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing.

  • Datu Masla Sema

    CONVICTED

    Convicted in absentia of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing.

  • Zack Haron Lopez

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.

  • Jackson Usi

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.

  • Ronald dela Rosa

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Philippine National Police Director General who confirmed the bombing as a terror attack involving an IED.

  • Ausa Abdullah Mamasapano

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Archival records

  • President Rodrigo Duterte portrait (cropped portrait)

    unclassified

    President Rodrigo Duterte portrait (cropped portrait)

    Government of the Philippines · Public domain · Source

  • Vice President Sara Duterte portrait (cropped)

    unclassified

    Vice President Sara Duterte portrait (cropped)

    Office of the Vice President of the Philippines · Public domain · Source

  • President Rodrigo Duterte listens to the report of Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero

    unclassified

    President Rodrigo Duterte listens to the report of Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero

    ROBINSON NIÑAL/PPD · Public domain · Source

  • President Rodrigo Duterte visits the blast site along Roxas night market

    archival location

    President Rodrigo Duterte visits the blast site along Roxas night market

    ROBINSON NIÑAL/PPD · Public domain · Source

Places

Roxas Night Market, Roxas Avenue, Davao City, Philippines

7.1907, 125.4553

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
A bomb exploded at the Roxas Night Market in Davao City, Philippines, on September 2, 2016, killing 15 people and injuring 70. Eleven men, several linked to the Maute group, were later convicted of murder and attempted murder in the attack.
Where did the bombing happen?
Roxas Night Market, Roxas Avenue, Davao City, Philippines.
Who was convicted?
Mohammad Abdul Jabbar Sema (Convicted in absentia of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing.), TJ Tagadaya Macabalang (Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.), Wendel Apostol Facturan (Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.), Jessy Vincent Original (Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.), Abubakar Zulkipli (Convicted in absentia of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing.), Musali Mustapha (Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.), Pendatun Coy Maruhom (Convicted in absentia of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing.), Datu Masla Sema (Convicted in absentia of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing.), Zack Haron Lopez (Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.), Jackson Usi (Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.), and Ausa Abdullah Mamasapano (Convicted of murder and attempted murder for the 2016 Roxas Night Market bombing; in custody at sentencing.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
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Sources

  1. 2016 Davao City bombingwikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Bato places PNP on full alert nationwide after Davao explosionnews · newsinfo.inquirer.net · 2026-07-07
  3. Davao blast: Facebook activates Safety Checknews · cnnphilippines.com · 2026-07-07