Philippines: Rights Groups Hit Back at Duterte’s ‘Shoot Them Dead’ Comments

International and local rights groups on Thursday slammed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s “shoot them dead” declaration against anyone carrying out violent demonstrations during the COVID-19 emergency, after police used force to disperse a protest by poor people in Metro Manila.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch led the condemnations of comments made by Duterte hours after officers in Quezon City chased down protesters and arrested 20 people, who were demanding food and relief supplies during the lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic.

“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,” said Butch Olano, Amnesty’s Philippine director.

“Deadly unchecked force should never be referred to as a method to respond to emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

His group called on Duterte to immediately stop his “dangerous incitement to violence” against those criticizing the government’s COVID-19 response.

“The lives of those most at risk must be considered a priority in the effort to minimize the threat of the virus,” Olano said.

The president made the comments during a late-night televised address to the nation on Wednesday.

“My orders to the police and the military [are] that if a commotion breaks out and they fight, putting your lives in danger, shoot them dead,” Duterte said.

“I am not used to being challenged. Not me,” said the Philippine leader who last week was granted emergency powers by Congress to deal with the national crisis over the coronavirus outbreak. “Let this be a warning to all. Follow the government at this time. It is critical that we have order.”

A researcher with Human Rights Watch said Duterte was capable of allowing police to carry out his threat, considering the thousands of suspects who have been killed in his administration’s war on drugs since 2016.

“At the very least, Duterte gives police all the justification they need to commit human rights abuses against people who may be violating these COVID-19 regulations because they needed to find work or food,” researcher Carlos H. Conde said.

On Wednesday, 20 members of the urban poor community were arrested after a violent dispersal by riot police in Quezon City.

They were among several dozen people who were frustrated by a lack of assistance from the government and took to the streets to demand food and other relief supplies amid the lockdown. Riot police who were armed with shields and batons had told them to disperse, but later used force to break up the gathering.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, spokesman for the Inter Agency Task Force on the COVID-19 response, defended Duterte’s comments, saying that they were meant to ensure order while community quarantines were in place.

“Is martial law an option? We are not talking about martial law. In a state of calamity, there has to be order that’s why it’s important for President Duterte that we maintain order especially in this time of crisis,” Nograles told a news briefing.

The Philippines had recorded 107 deaths and 2,633 cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday afternoon, an increase of 11 and 322, respectively, from Wednesday.

Globally, more than 51,000 people have died of COVID-19, according to the latest data compiled by disease experts at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. On Thursday, the number of confirmed cases worldwide broke the 1 million mark, according the data from Johns Hopkins.

‘A matter of survival’

Duterte has responded to the COVID-19 crisis by calling on trusted defense and military officials to lead an interagency task force rather than civilian health officials. Filipinos have been greeted by military and police personnel in fatigues manning checkpoints.

Since March 16, when Duterte imposed the lockdown over all of Luzon island, home to Manila, police have reported more than 17,000 arrests for violations of curfews and community quarantines.

Conde said incidents of people breaking curfew regulations were understandable because, for the majority of poor people affected by the lockdown, “it is a matter of survival.”

Appealing to the public, Duterte vowed to release a stimulus package of 200 billion pesos (U.S. $3.9 billion) to assist residents nationwide. Questions about how the funds would be distributed or who would qualify have not been answered fully.

On Thursday, police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the government had been working to lay the groundwork for mass distribution of aid through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“All unit commanders and chiefs of police down to the municipal and city levels have already been directed to start coordinating with the local offices of the DSWD in their respective areas of jurisdiction and map out plans to ensure the quick and smooth distribution of the cash assistance in their respective areas of responsibilities,” he said.

“We appeal to the public to remain in their homes and observe patience while waiting for the distribution of the cash assistance to help them cope with the adverse effects brought by this pandemic,” he said.

Eleazar said the goal was to ensure the security of local social workers tasked with distributing funds, while ensuring that rules on social distancing and home quarantine were strictly observed.

“I reiterate the warning against groups and personalities who are planning to take advantage of the cash assistance distribution to instigate disorder and spread fake news aimed at agitating the public to violate the (quarantine) rules and other existing laws,” he said.

“We will use the full force of the law to make sure that you will pay for any of your action,” he said.