BANGKOK – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatened martial law-style enforcement of a monthlong lockdown in the main northern region of the country as violations of the quarantine soared.
Duterte said in a late-night televised speech Thursday he would order the military and police to strictly enforce social distancing and curfews if compliance would not improve.
Police said they have accosted about 120,000 quarantine violators since last month, including people who engaged in cockfighting and drinking sprees. “The police and military will enforce social distancing and curfews.
They will. It’s like martial law. You choose. I don’t like it,” Duterte said but added that he may be forced to “if the country gets compromised and you won’t