An explosion at a night market in the home town of the Philippines president has left up to 10 people dead and several others wounded.

Regional military commander Lieutenant General Rey Leonardo Guerrero said it was not immediately clear what caused the explosion late on Friday in southern Davao City.

Police say the blast happened at a massage section of the night market.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who served as a long-time mayor of Davao before assuming the presidency in June, was in Davao but has not issued any statement.

Philippine forces were on alert amid an ongoing military offensive against Abu Sayyaf extremists in southern Sulu province.

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