PNP chief on Duterte's 'shoot them dead' order: He's just overemphasizing the law

President Rodrigo Duterte was just "overemphasizing" the rules in the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine when he ordered the police and military to shoot those who will bring hostilities amid the health crisis, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said Thursday.

"Probably the President just overemphasized on implementing the law in this time of crisis," Gamboa said in an interview on ANC.

Asked if the police would just be shooting people dead, Gamboa replied: "Of course not. We see the strong message and all the PNP personnel understood it."

In an address on Wednesday night, Duterte warned left-leaning groups against staging riots during this period of public health emergency due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"My orders are sa pulis pati military, pati mga barangay na pagka-ginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at ang buhay ninyo ay nalagay sa alanganin, shoot them dead," Duterte said.

The Chief Executive made the warning after some 21 residents from Sitio San Roque in Quezon City were arrested for staging a protest as they asked for food from the government.

Police said they ordered the residents to go back to their residences but the latter refused.