MANILA (UCAN): Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, was on the backfoot on April 3 trying to explain his April 1 “shoot them dead” order to police and the military to shoot community quarantine violators if they pose a risk to their lives and the lives of others.
Lashing out at left-wing groups for allegedly misrepresenting what he said he did not order police or military to kill anyone out of caprice and that he was stating what was in law as standard procedure for a warrantless arrest.
“The police should overcome the force or resistance being shown by the person being arrested. So, if the one being arrested continuously and repeatedly fights or resists police authorities, the authorities should overcome this resistance,” Duterte said on public television.
“This is what I meant. If you put the arresting officer’s life at risk, he can overcome your resistance and may fire at you,” Duterte said.
However, the president said, live on television, on April 1: “I would not hesitate. My order to the police and the military is, when the occasion arises that the public puts your life at risk … shoot them dead.”
The order was issued after police clashed with protesters who were demanding government aid. They claimed they had not been receiving any support despite the president’s fat budget to fight the pandemic. Authorities moved in to disperse the crowd for being in violation of social distancing rules, arresting 16 people.
Duterte claimed that left-wing groups were behind the protest.
“You wait. Do not use force. I am addressing the left (anti-government groups) about your criticisms about the distribution of goods. Remember, you, leftist groups: you are not the government. So, do not do anything stupid like starting a riot because I will order you detained and I will have you in jail until this pandemic is over,” he said.
The president also threatened to send quarantine violators “to their grave” if they continue to cause trouble. He then went on to address allegations of corruption in the distribution of government aid. Several people posted online reports saying repacked groceries and medical supply boxes had politicians’ names on them.
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“Do not entertain doubts about dishonesty and corruption. This is not the time for them. Not this time. I am the one telling you,” Duterte said.
However the public were far from convinced. “This is clearly not the cost of the billions of pesos that was released as aid to the needy,” said one Manila resident who wished to remain anonymous.
“This is not the time for politicking. The virus is our enemy. I hope our politicians will set aside their political agenda first and focus on the real problem,” said Marco Lansadas, a taxi driver.
On April 3 he also claimed that his order was in accordance with United Nations’ (UN) human rights standards, but human rights experts disagreed.
“The standards on use of excessive or lethal force are clear: if you have to shoot, do it to immobilise, not to kill,” a human rights lawyer, Anthony Custodia, said.
Custodia quoted UN guidelines saying that the exercise of restraint must be “in proportion to the seriousness of the offense and the legitimate objective to be achieved.”
He also reminded the government that authorities have a duty to minimize damage and injury and to respect and preserve human rights.
In related developments, Manuelito Luna, the commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), was reported by various Philippine media as calling for the country’s vice president, Leni Robredo, to be investigated for what he called “illegal solicitations” as she raised money, through her office, to help frontliners in the battle against the spread of Covid-19.
The office of the vice president has been quick off the mark in ensuring free shuttle services, distribution of personal protective equipment (PPEs), and free dormitories for health workers among other things. The Inquirer reported that 36 million pesos had already been raised towards the procurement of more PPEs and that as of March 31, 32,000 had been distributed around the National Capital Region.
Luna, however, insisted that Robredo’s efforts “compete with, or (are) calculated to undermine, national government efforts.”
Curiously, PACC commissioner and spokesperson, Greco Belgica, later walked back Luna’s call. “PACC is not asking anyone to investigate VP Leni Robredo. On the other hand, we are thankful to everyone who are helping the frontliners and the needy including the VP,” GMANews reported Belgica as saying.
“This is not the time for politicking. We are not concerned with any personality. Our main concern is to make sure all the needy Filipinos get all the help they need the president promised,” he told the media.
Alfredo Garbi, vice chairperson of the committee on justice of the House of Representatives, rapped Luna for politicising the vice president’s relief drive efforts. “Politicking has no place in today’s situation, not when Filipinos are dying, not when Filipinos are sick and hungry,” Politiko reported Garbin as saying, adding that “charity is not a competition nor a crime.”
Meanwhile, Bishop Jose Alan Dialogo and his priests have baked bread to be distributed to the poor in the Diocese of Sorsogon. Fish is also being distributed to poor communities who cannot afford to buy food during the enhanced community quarantine.
As of April 7, the Philippines had recorded 3,660 Covid-19 cases with 163 deaths. Worldwide, 261,445 people have recovered from the illness.
