Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned troublemakers who violate coronavirus lockdown rules and abuse medical workers that they would be shot dead.
The volatile leader said in a televised address that it was vital that everyone stay home as authorities try to stem the spread of the virus, which has killed about 100 people and infected over 2,300 in the country, Reuters reported.
“It is getting worse. So once again I’m telling you the seriousness of the problem and that you must listen,” Duterte said Wednesday night.
Rodrigo DuterteAP
“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,” he said.
“Is that understood? Dead. Instead of causing trouble, I will bury you,” Duterte added.
His fiery comments came after local reports of a disturbance and multiple arrests of residents in an impoverished area of Manila who were protesting about a lack of enough food aid.
On Thursday, national police chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said authorities understood that Duterte “just overemphasized” the law and that no one would be shot, Bloomberg News reported.
