THE INTERNATIONAL Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) strongly condemned the shoot-to-kill order of President Rodrigo Duterte to all violators of the strict coronavirus quarantine in Manila after hungry residents staged street protests demanding government food aid.
“We are raising the alarm in the international community on President Duterte’s directive to kill unruly violators of the coronavirus quarantine.
This pronouncement is a dangerous order that allows authorities to target and kill anyone in a public space. It is also a complete violation of the fundamental rights of Filipinos especially in this time of global pandemic,” said ICHRP chairperson Peter Murphy.
Duterte addressed the whole nation hours after the incidents of unrest and people massing up for food and relief in the country’s capital. In his televised speech, his tirade of violent threats included “I will not hesitate. My orders are sa pulis pati military...na pagka ginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at ang buhay ninyo ay nalagay sa alanganin—shoot them dead.”
The same day, 21 citizens were arrested for going out of their homes and demanding the relief promised by the national government. Residents of an urban community in the biggest city in Metro Manila staged a rally asking for food and aid amid the government’s lockdown to contain the coronavirus, which in turn has left millions of Filipinos jobless and hungry.
“Our support goes to the poor Filipinos whose only crime is to be hungry and demand what is rightfully theirs. The right to food and basic social services should be ensured especially in times like these,” ICHRP asserts. A video circulating in the social media shows citizens demanding for food being violently dispersed by authorities.
"Naintindihan ninyo? Patay. Eh kaysa mag-gulo kayo diyan, eh 'di ilibing ko na kayo,” Duterte added in his recorded address. Recently, the president was given special powers to distribute P200 billion to more than 18 million poor households. But after a week the aid remains unreleased.
“President Duterte’s criminal negligence coupled with brutal measures to address the pandemic is taking its toll on Filipinos. Millions of informal workers have been displaced and right abuses have been rampant all over the country,” Murphy said.
“The police and military who have been deployed to enforce social distancing are not trained for this task and have been the very perpetrators of human rights violations,” he added.
The authorities have been detaining homeless people, putting curfew violators in cages and using torture methods to punish them, and even arresting citizens over “provoking” posts on social media.
Netizens showed their anger online over the president’s pronouncement to “shoot them dead” and called for his ouster. The #OustDuterte have been trending in the Philippines for two days now.
Philippine National Police Chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa said they remain steadfast and uncompromising in performing their duty as servants and protectors of the people, most especially in this time of national health emergency.
“The thoughts of President Rodrigo Duterte as expressed in his orders to the PNP are as clear as it can get - that public order and rule of law must reign if we are to defeat this viral pandemic. As a seasoned lawyer, President Duterte knows whereof he speaks. The order to shoot , after all, is consistent with what is prescribed in our Police Operational Procedures or rules of engagement that authorize use of reasonable force, including firearms, in defense of self and defense of a stranger when faced with imminent danger of unlawful aggression,” he said.
But Gamboa added: “The PNP assures no shooting will happen if everyone will just obey the rules, particularly the guidelines of health authorities on quarantine, social distancing and crowding. Let me reiterate our warning to agitators and organizers of illegal mass actions - disobedience to lawful orders of persons in authority will be dealt with squarely without compromise.”
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo also said that Duterte minced no words in warning the trouble makers and the seditious inciters of mortal consequences if they continue to create unrest, panic, confusion, fear and foment hate against the government, while the nation struggles to rid itself of the deadly coronavirus.
"The President ordered the PNP to shoot them dead if in the course of the instigated riot, the lives of the policemen are placed on the line. While those who want peace and order to reign even as the country is reeling over the adverse effects of the global crisis hail the incisive and blunt words of the President, there are the usual detractors, whiners and nitpickers who criticized the President and raised the specter of martial rule being exercised by the President," he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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“We are raising the alarm in the international community on President Duterte’s directive to kill unruly violators of the coronavirus quarantine.
This pronouncement is a dangerous order that allows authorities to target and kill anyone in a public space. It is also a complete violation of the fundamental rights of Filipinos especially in this time of global pandemic,” said ICHRP chairperson Peter Murphy.
Duterte addressed the whole nation hours after the incidents of unrest and people massing up for food and relief in the country’s capital. In his televised speech, his tirade of violent threats included “I will not hesitate. My orders are sa pulis pati military...na pagka ginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at ang buhay ninyo ay nalagay sa alanganin—shoot them dead.”
The same day, 21 citizens were arrested for going out of their homes and demanding the relief promised by the national government. Residents of an urban community in the biggest city in Metro Manila staged a rally asking for food and aid amid the government’s lockdown to contain the coronavirus, which in turn has left millions of Filipinos jobless and hungry.
“Our support goes to the poor Filipinos whose only crime is to be hungry and demand what is rightfully theirs. The right to food and basic social services should be ensured especially in times like these,” ICHRP asserts. A video circulating in the social media shows citizens demanding for food being violently dispersed by authorities.
"Naintindihan ninyo? Patay. Eh kaysa mag-gulo kayo diyan, eh 'di ilibing ko na kayo,” Duterte added in his recorded address. Recently, the president was given special powers to distribute P200 billion to more than 18 million poor households. But after a week the aid remains unreleased.
“President Duterte’s criminal negligence coupled with brutal measures to address the pandemic is taking its toll on Filipinos. Millions of informal workers have been displaced and right abuses have been rampant all over the country,” Murphy said.
“The police and military who have been deployed to enforce social distancing are not trained for this task and have been the very perpetrators of human rights violations,” he added.
The authorities have been detaining homeless people, putting curfew violators in cages and using torture methods to punish them, and even arresting citizens over “provoking” posts on social media.
Netizens showed their anger online over the president’s pronouncement to “shoot them dead” and called for his ouster. The #OustDuterte have been trending in the Philippines for two days now.
Philippine National Police Chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa said they remain steadfast and uncompromising in performing their duty as servants and protectors of the people, most especially in this time of national health emergency.
“The thoughts of President Rodrigo Duterte as expressed in his orders to the PNP are as clear as it can get - that public order and rule of law must reign if we are to defeat this viral pandemic. As a seasoned lawyer, President Duterte knows whereof he speaks. The order to shoot , after all, is consistent with what is prescribed in our Police Operational Procedures or rules of engagement that authorize use of reasonable force, including firearms, in defense of self and defense of a stranger when faced with imminent danger of unlawful aggression,” he said.
But Gamboa added: “The PNP assures no shooting will happen if everyone will just obey the rules, particularly the guidelines of health authorities on quarantine, social distancing and crowding. Let me reiterate our warning to agitators and organizers of illegal mass actions - disobedience to lawful orders of persons in authority will be dealt with squarely without compromise.”
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo also said that Duterte minced no words in warning the trouble makers and the seditious inciters of mortal consequences if they continue to create unrest, panic, confusion, fear and foment hate against the government, while the nation struggles to rid itself of the deadly coronavirus.
"The President ordered the PNP to shoot them dead if in the course of the instigated riot, the lives of the policemen are placed on the line. While those who want peace and order to reign even as the country is reeling over the adverse effects of the global crisis hail the incisive and blunt words of the President, there are the usual detractors, whiners and nitpickers who criticized the President and raised the specter of martial rule being exercised by the President," he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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