Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has imposed some of the strictest lockdown conditions in the world as part of his government’s approach to tackling the spread of COVID-19, which has so far infected over 3,000 and left 136 dead in the country. The latest measure is a ‘shoot to kill’ order declared by Duterte in response to protesters violating quarantine in Quezon City demanding food and other aid.
In a national address on Wednesday night, Duterte warned that he would not hesitate to order soldiers to shoot protesters who indulged in violence, shooting or killing. “Don’t test the Filipino. Do not try to test it. You know, we are ready for you. Violence or shooting or killing, I will not hesitate to order my soldiers to shoot you. I will not hesitate to order the police to arrest and detain you,” he said.
Depending on the translation, Duterte was reported as saying that ‘troublemakers’ would be dealt with by issuing shoot to kill orders to police and military personnel. “...Do not harm the health workers, the doctors...because that is a serious crime,” Duterte warned.
“Let this be a warning to all. Follow the government at this time because it is critical that we have order," he said.
The announcement came after police arrested 21 people from a slum in Quezon, who had defied the regional lockdown to protest that they had received no food or relief for the last two weeks.
"Do not go around causing trouble and riots because I will order you detained until this COVID-19 [outbreak ends]" Duterte said.
On March 16, Duterte declared a total lockdown over Luzon—the Philippines’ largest island, with over half the country’s population, over 50 million, living in it. Calling it an ‘Enhanced Community Quarantine’, Duterte said the measures would last for a month until mid-April. Under it, most public transport was stopped and citizens are barred from stepping outside except to buy essentials, which they may do so by sending just one member of their household to visit the shops at a time.
The move came days after Manila was also placed under lockdown.
Amnesty Philippine Section Director, Butch Olano, responded to Duterte’s statements with alarm.
“It is deeply alarming that President Duterte has extended a ‘shoot to kill’ policy to law enforcement agencies. Deadly, unchecked force should never be used in an emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Olano.
"This includes the violent police dispersal of residents of San Roque, Quezon City who were protesting the lack of relief support from the local government. The violent police response to calls for help is heartless and unjustifiable, especially while millions of Filipinos are prevented from earning a living,” he added.
A spokesperson for the President’s office, however, said on Friday that the shoot-to-kill orders were “not a crime”, saying that self-preservation laws allow the use of lethal force.
“The law allows the use of lethal violence when the person’s life using it hangs on the balance. That is a universal law anchored on the principle of self-preservation,” spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
“In issuing the warning to the Left as well as to those who instigate riots and violence, he [Duterte] is merely reminding them that the government is ready to forcibly quell any unrest and disturbance that threaten public safety especially at this time of national emergency,” Panelo said, as reported by the Inquirer.
“The President by exercising what the Constitution requires him to do is precisely putting an end to a contemplated and threatened violence by those who disturb the status quo that will certainly result to destruction of lives and properties,” he added. “By so doing, the President is protecting the lives and human rights of those people placed in imminent danger thereof.”
Duterte is no stranger to making death threats in his speeches. Under his administration’s orders, thousands have been executed by the police in what Human Rights Watch calls extra-judicial killings.
