Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has told police, security forces to shoot dead anyone causing “trouble” in areas locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
About half of Philippine ‘s roughly 110 million people are currently under quarantine — including millions in deep poverty, left jobless by tough restrictions on movement.
President Duterte gave the order in a speech late Wednesday, he said;
“My orders are to the police and military, also village officials, that if there is trouble or the situation arises that people fight and your lives are on the line, shoot them dead.”
“Instead of causing trouble, I’ll send you to the grave,” he said, adding that the outbreak is getting worse more than two weeks into the lockdown.
The Philippines has so far detected 2,311 cases and reported 96 deaths, but the number of confirmed infections is expected to keep rising.
