RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday he authorized the country’s police and military to shoot individuals who fail to comply with government measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
During the speech broadcast live, Duterte also reinforced the “severity” of the pandemic, which so far records 2,311 official cases and 96 deaths in the Philippines.
“It’s getting worse and worse. So I am alerting you to the severity of the situation and you should listen. I will not hesitate. My orders to the police and the military are that if there are problems and if there is a time when they have to fight back and their lives are in danger, they should shoot you dead. Do you understand? Killed rather than cause trouble. I will bury you,” said the President.
The president’s decision came after clashes occurred in Manila, the nation’s capital, due to a lack of support from local governments in complying with measures to tackle Covid-19. The clashes led to many arrests and in Quezon City alone some 21 residents were imprisoned for unauthorized protesting.
“Remember, you’re a leftist: you’re not the government. Don’t go out causing trouble and riots, because I will order your arrest until this Covid outbreak is over,” the politician fired.
Despite the President’s address, yesterday the head of the national police reported that the organization perceived Duterte’s remarks as a demonstration of gravity and respect for public order, but that no one will be shot.
The President sparked controversy and was widely criticized after a televised speech last Monday, March 30th. In the address, Duterte said health professionals “are lucky to die for the country” in addressing their work in the midst of a pandemic.
“There are doctors, nurses, and assistants who have died. They are the ones who died helping others. They’re so lucky. They died for the country. This should be the reason we all died. It would be an honor to die for one’s country, I assure you,” he said.
On Sunday, the Medical Association of the Philippines reported that 12 doctors died as a result of Covid-19 in the country. The association had announced earlier that several professionals are quarantined and denounced the lack of protective equipment.
Source: UOL