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DPA
Manila
Filipinos should be ashamed that the number of coronavirus infections in the Philippines is now the highest of any country in South-East Asia, a spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday.
“Because there are so many stubborn Filipinos, we are now number one in [the Association of South-East Asian Nations] with the most cases of Covid-19,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.
“This is embarrassing. Stop being hard-headed and stay in your homes.”
Roque noted that in other South-East Asian countries where lockdowns have been imposed, such as Singapore and Malaysia, people are adhering to the restrictions.
“We should be ashamed of ourselves because we are showing everyone that we don’t have discipline,” he said.
The Department of Health reported 207 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Philippines on Thursday, bringing to 5,660 the total tally. There are 349 deaths and 353 recoveries among the confirmed cases.
This makes the Philippines the country with the highest number of cases of Covid-19 among the 10-member ASEAN. It is followed by Indonesia with 5,516 cases and Malaysia with 5,182.
Duterte warned he would impose a lockdown similar to martial law if the public continues to disregard restrictions.
“I’m just asking for discipline,” he said in a late-night televised address.
“Because if you don’t follow and you don’t believe, then the military and police will take over. I am ordering them now to be ready. The military and the police will enforce social distancing and curfew.”
“It will be like martial law,” he added.
The warning came following reports that some communities recently held a boxing match, cockfights and bingo games despite the lockdown.
Traffic also built up along a major expressway and some streets in Manila as more people went out of their homes.
Duterte urged Filipinos to endure two more weeks of lockdown to protect not just themselves but their families, friends and neighbours.
“I know you all are excited to go out,” he said, adding that he too has not been able to go to his home in the southern city of Davao due to the lockdown, which cancelled all flights to and from Manila.
Manila
Filipinos should be ashamed that the number of coronavirus infections in the Philippines is now the highest of any country in South-East Asia, a spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday.
“Because there are so many stubborn Filipinos, we are now number one in [the Association of South-East Asian Nations] with the most cases of Covid-19,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.
“This is embarrassing. Stop being hard-headed and stay in your homes.”
Roque noted that in other South-East Asian countries where lockdowns have been imposed, such as Singapore and Malaysia, people are adhering to the restrictions.
“We should be ashamed of ourselves because we are showing everyone that we don’t have discipline,” he said.
The Department of Health reported 207 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Philippines on Thursday, bringing to 5,660 the total tally. There are 349 deaths and 353 recoveries among the confirmed cases.
This makes the Philippines the country with the highest number of cases of Covid-19 among the 10-member ASEAN. It is followed by Indonesia with 5,516 cases and Malaysia with 5,182.
Duterte warned he would impose a lockdown similar to martial law if the public continues to disregard restrictions.
“I’m just asking for discipline,” he said in a late-night televised address.
“Because if you don’t follow and you don’t believe, then the military and police will take over. I am ordering them now to be ready. The military and the police will enforce social distancing and curfew.”
“It will be like martial law,” he added.
The warning came following reports that some communities recently held a boxing match, cockfights and bingo games despite the lockdown.
Traffic also built up along a major expressway and some streets in Manila as more people went out of their homes.
Duterte urged Filipinos to endure two more weeks of lockdown to protect not just themselves but their families, friends and neighbours.
“I know you all are excited to go out,” he said, adding that he too has not been able to go to his home in the southern city of Davao due to the lockdown, which cancelled all flights to and from Manila.
