“If problems arise, I will send you to the grave,” Duterte said in connection with a demonstration to mitigate the coronavirus measurements. It has blamed leftist formations for people to go out into the streets and threatened them with incarceration until the epidemic is over.

Last week, the Congress of Deputies gave the president 'special powers'. The Government has approved a $4 billion fund to distribute among the 18 million impoverished households. This aid has not yet been granted, because the Government is setting up a “consolidated database”. However, he wanted to send a message of tranquillity to the citizens: “Wait for the money to come, even if it comes late, it will come and it will not go hungry. You will not starve to death.”

The president has received very serious criticism for his attitude, which has led him to re-election. The human rights organization Karapatan has warned that the president’s words have opened the way to human rights violations and that in the coming days they will be subjected to violence and repression by the State.

Duterte has also been criticized by the organization of the student movement CEGP, which considers it normal that people move if they are hungry. He added that the Government should not implement fascist or militarist plans against “a nation that is hit by hunger and cholera against an incapable regime.”

Internal criticisms

It has not only received criticism from the opposition and from social movements, but also from the police. The head of the Flipinas Police, Archie Gamboa, has said that they will not comply with the shooting order given by the president. The president said he was "exaggerated" and said the police will enforce the law.