Philippine president threatens to shoot protesters after frantic scenes seen at COVID-19 lockdown rally

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday (April 2) threatened to order troops to shoot protesters after a rally was organised in response to COVID-19 restrictions in Manila.

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday (April 2) threatened to order troops to shoot protesters after a rally was organised in response to COVID-19 restrictions in Manila.

Duterte was speaking after 21 people were arrested on Wednesday (April 1) for staging a rally without permit in Quezon City.

They claimed that they were demanding food aid and assistance from the government during the COVID-19 lockdown, which has caused unemployment in the area.

In the video of the disturbance, soldiers and police were seen taking people in handcuffs and running after those who were fleeing from the scene The group demonstrated and occupied a portion of the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue in Quezon City, which is a few meters away from the protester's neighbourhood in Sitio San Roque.

Hardline president Duterte - best known for tough action on drug dealers - blamed ''leftists'' for trying to destabilise the government.

He said: ''I’m addressing the Left.

Your violations, slamming the distribution [of food], remember you in the Left, you are not the government.

And you know that.

You are not the government and you cannot be part of what we are planning for the nation.

''You know, we are ready for you.

Violence, shooting, killing, I will not hesitate [to order] my soldiers to shoot you.

I will not hesitate to order the police to arrest and detain you.

Now, if you are detained you will have to look for your own food.

I will give the food to good people who are in need, instead of giving it to foolish people like you who start trouble.'' The Quezon City local government said in a statement that their relief efforts are continuous to help out those whose livelihood were affected by the lockdown.