Philippine President eyes martial law-like COVID-19 crackdown

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on April 17 warned about a martial law-like crackdown to stop people flouting a virus lockdown in the nation's capital.
Philippine President eyes martial law-like COVID-19 crackdown ảnh 1Illustrative image (Photo: AFP)

Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine President RodrigoDuterte on April 17 warned about a martial law-like crackdown tostop people flouting a virus lockdown in the nation's capital.

In a televised speech, Duterte said the armyand police will take over if discipline is not taken.

Hespoke a day after authorities reported an upsurge of cars on Manila's roads which have been nearly deserted since a sweeping lockdown was imposed a monthago.

Asreported cases of the SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 started to climb in March, the leader ordered a quarantine of the main northern island of Luzon, which includes thecapital's 12 million people.

Onlyessential workers and people buying food or medicine are officially allowedoutside their homes, yet many others have flouted the rules.

ThePhilippines has detected some 5,660 infection cases and recorded 362 deaths,but those figures are expected to climb as the nation ramps up testing./.

VNA

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