New Delhi, 15
September 2019. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday told
Filipinos that they could “shoot but not kill” public officials who demand
money in exchange for their services.

“The only thing
that I am asking the Filipino people is really to be assertive… If you pay
taxes, fees, clearances or whatever, and these fools ask for a bribe, slap
them. If you have a gun, you can shoot them, but don’t kill because you might
not be included among those given pardon or computation,” he was quoted as
saying during a public address by Arab News.

“Just the foot,
then it will only be serious physical injuries … You admit it, then you go to
probation. You do not go inside the prison … You’ll just report to a probation
officer,” Duterte said. “At least you got to shoot a foolish thief.”

Duterte, a former
prosecutor, said in his speech during the inauguration of the Bataan
government center and business hub dubbed “The Bunker.”

The president
vowed to defend any person who shoots a corrupt official.

“I will defend
you. If the incident reaches my office, I will call for the complainant and
tell him to slap (the official) three times …”

Rodrigo lamented
that if corruption was not stopped it would become “a worm inside, in almost
everybody in government — national and local.”

Duterte is known for his informal style and his speeches frequently feature profanity, threats and jokes about taboo subjects, which offend some Filipinos, but are taken lightly by many.

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