US ready to assist Philippines in Davao blast probe

MANILA, Philippines — The United States on Saturday expressed its condolence to families of the victims of the blast that ripped through a market in Davao City on Friday night, offering its hand in the probe.

In a statement released by the White House, National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price said the US "stands ready to provide assistance to the investigation" into the cause of the explosion.

"The United States offers deep condolences to the families and other loved ones of the victims of the explosion in the Philippines' Davao City, and Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured," Price said.

Friday night's blast in President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown killed at least 14 people and injured scores of others. Duterte afterward declared a "state of lawlessness" extending the authority of state forces to search suspicious individuals.

LIVE UPDATES: Davao City explosion

Price said American President Barack Obama will offer his personal condolences to Duterte next week on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Vientiane, Laos next week.

Duterte, meanwhile, canceled his trip to Brunei scheduled for Sunday that was supposed to precede his trip to Laos.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and those hurt earlier on Saturday.