Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to kill anyone in his country who resists authorities during the nationwide coronavirus quarantine.
Duterte, known for his authoritarian stance against crime, said in a televised address on Wednesday that there must not be any resistance to law enforcement officers or the military while they try to control the pandemic.
“It is getting worse. So once again, I’m telling you the seriousness of the problem and that you must listen,” Duterte said, according to Reuters and local reports. “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 added, “Is that understood? Dead. Instead of causing trouble, I will bury you.”
Duterte gained international attention after he launched a violent campaign against drug use in his country. His critics have said the president’s angry speeches and fiery rhetoric have increased vigilantism and violence and have led to extrajudicial killings.
The Philippines has had more than 2,600 cases of the coronavirus, 51 recoveries, and at least 107 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
