MANILA - The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday it was treating the bomb blast in Cotabato, which killed 2 and injured dozens, as an act of terror.

• 2 dead, 34 hurt in Cotabato City mall blast

PNP Spokesperson Benigno Durana said that based on the initial post blast investigation, the bomb's components matched those of local ISIS-affiliated terror groups.

The PNP has formed a special investigative task force to focus on the bombing but it has yet to make an arrest.

• Task group formed to probe Cotabato blast

The improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated by perpetrators in front of Southseas Complex on Monday afternoon, New Year's Eve. Another IED was found by authorities inside the department store.

The blast radius reached 38 meters, according to the bomb disposal team.

Martial law remains in place in Mindanao to quell terrorist threats. Military rule was initially declared in the region in May 2017, when clashes between government forces and Islamic State-linked terrorists erupted in Marawi City.