A 63-year-old man was shot dead by the Philippine police after he threatened to attack local officials and a police officer with a scythe in the southern province of Agusan del Norte, Insider reported earlier today (6 April).
According to the police officer, the man became angry when he was cautioned for not wearing a mask at the checkpoint in the town of Nasipit in Agusan del Norte last Thursday (2 April).
“The suspect was cautioned by a village health worker for not wearing a face mask,” the police officer said. “But the suspect got angry, uttering provoking words and eventually attacked the personnel using a scythe.”
The suspect is believed to be drunk when threatening to attack local officials and police. A police officer, who was trying to pacify him, opened fire and shot him dead.
The incident is the first reported case after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told security forces to shoot dead anyone causing ‘trouble’ in areas locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic on 1 April.
“My orders are to the police and military, also village officials, that if there is trouble or the situation arises that people fight and your lives are on the line, shoot them dead,” Mr Duterte noted.
“Instead of causing trouble, I’ll send you to the grave,” he remarked, adding that the outbreak is getting worse more than two weeks into the lockdown.
On 3 April, Mr Duterte, in another televised address, defended his warning against troublemaker and reiterated that the situation can cause anyone to get infected with the virus.
“Without these restrictions, this will not end,” he asserted. “So if you don’t want to follow, then I will finish you to protect the lives of the innocent who don’t want to die.”
The Philippines has recorded a total of 3,414 infected cases and 152 fatalities to date.
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