The President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has warned residents that the police and military have been told to "shoot dead" anyone "who creates trouble" during a month-long lockdown of Luzon - the largest and most populous island in the Philippines.
Mr Duterte's address came after 21 residents of a slum community in Manila were arrested for staging an "unauthorized protest" demanding government food aid, per ABC.net.au.
The residents claimed that they had not received food packs or other supplies since the lockdown began more than two weeks ago.
Per Reuters, there has been outrage amongst members of the medical community and hospital workers in the country, who are reportedly suffering instances of physical abuse and discrimination.
During a press conference, Duterte said;
“It is getting worse. So once again I’m telling you the seriousness of the problem and that you must listen.
“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.”
Per the John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, at the time of writing the Philippines has thus far had 2,633 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 107 recorded deaths.
Amnesty International Philippine urged the President to immediately end any incitement to violence, per ABC. Amnesty International Philippine section director Butch Olano commented;
"It is deeply alarming that President Duterte has extended a policy of shoot to kill, a devastating hallmark of his presidency, to law enforcement agencies in the community quarantine.
"Deadly, unchecked force should never be referred to as a method to respond to an emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic."
Pictured below is an empty road in Quezon City, Philippines.
