Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte in a televised address to his citizens has announced that he has ordered the police and armed forces to shoot dead anyone who violently resists the implementation of coronavirus lockdown, Times of India has reported.
“My orders to the police and military...if there is trouble and there’s an occasion that they fight back and your lives are in danger, shoot them dead...Is that understood? Dead. Instead of causing trouble, I will bury you”, Duterte was quoted as saying.
This remark was later described as a hyperbole by his office, which said that the President wished to stress on people not violating the lockdown.
Duterte added that the situation is getting worse in the country and people need to cooperate given the serious nature of the problem. He also condemned physical abuse and discrimination against health professionals in the country and said that such behaviour must stop.
Philippines so far has recorded 2,311 positive Covid-19 cases and 96 deaths.
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