President Rodrigo Roa Duterte calls on the Filipino people to observe strict discipline in practicing proper social…
Posted by Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) on Thursday, April 16, 2020
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday warned that there would be a martial law-like situation if people continue to flout quarantine restrictions.
In a televised address, Duterte called for discipline amid government efforts to stem the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that uniformed services were preparing for more drastic measures.
“I am just asking for your disiplina, konti. Kasi pag ayaw ninyo, ayaw ninyong maniwala, mag take order ang military pati ang pulis. I am ordering them now to be ready. Ang pulis pati ang military ang mag enforce, sa distance sa social distance at yang curfew. Sila na. Parang martial law na rin tayo.”
Duterte said he did not want a military and police takeover but if the public would be put in danger, he didn’t mind being criticized.
“Pero ngayon ano man partido mo o ano man kulay mo sumunod ka maski pag hindi, ang kaharap mo sunod military na at pulis. Yan ang ano ko. Ngayon, kailan talaga estimate bigyan mo kami. Baka next week. Every day they are at it ika nga nandyan na sila nakatutok. Habulan sila ngayon.”
Earlier, Palace spokesman Harry Roque blamed “pasaway” or hard-headed people for the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country. The Philippines now has the highest number of confirmed cases in Southeast Asia.
“[A]ng dami pong pasaway sa atin. At dahil po diyan, number one na naman tayo sa ASEAN sa dami ng COVID-19, nakakahiya po iyan! Itigil ninyo na iyang pagiging pasaway. Manatili kayo sa inyong mga tahanan.”
The total number of infections in the country increased to 5,660 with 207 new positive cases. The health department also reported 13 new Covid-19 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 362. (PressONE.ph)
