#OUSTDUTERTENOW trended on social media platform twitter, April 1, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s surprise media briefing tonight.

His speech came after today’s protest of people in an urban poor community earlier due to lack of aid from the government. Duterte addressed this incident.

Huwag ninyong subukan ang Pilipino. We are ready for you. Gulo o barilan o patayan. I will not hesitate to order the police to arrest and detain you. Kapag kayo na-detain, bahala kayo sa pagkain ninyo,” Duterte said. 

In Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, more than 150 went out to EDSA, held placards and called for the much-needed aid. Twenty-one were violently dispersed and detained.

My orders are sa pulis at military, pati mga barangay. Na kapag may gulo, okasyon na lumaban at buhay ninyo ay nalagay sa alanganin, shoot them dead,” Duterte said. 

The hashtag #OUSTDUTERTENOW trended on Twitter in January when the first COVID-19 case in the country was detected and found the government’s action delayed or wanting. The public thought the president should order a travel ban, but instead said he’d let the Chinese go in and out as usual and the government met to address the crisis only a few days later.

It was almost three weeks since the the total lockdown in Luzon was enforced and a week after the president’s request for additional powers were approved by Congress, along with it the power to move P275 billion in the 2020 national budget as savings to address the COVID-19 pandemic. He addressed people on Monday, March 30, eight hours delayed in the announced schedule, to give his first weekly report on his additional powers. Many were left asking about the concrete plans of the government and the report of expenses incurred.

Other trending topics following Duterte’s public address pertaining to the government included TANGINANG GOBYERNO, Ph government, 275 billion, Vote wisely, Hindi inutil, #Halalan2022 and ngayon ay lumalaban.

#OUSTDUTERTENOW and other hashtags became top trending topics in the Philippines and worldwide.

Most tweets on the hashtag expressed their reaction of anger to Duterte’s surprise public address and their frustration with the national government’s incompetence to address the COVID-19.

2 COMMENTS

  1. The Philippines needs a leader to take right actions accordingly to the situation. We dont need a leader who says “shoot them instead giving out help to his people.

  2. Sa mga taong sobra nang nahihirapan, dahil sa situation natin ngayon na may covid19, sa tingin ko base sa sinabi Ng pangulo, kunting tiis lang, kasi sinabi Nia Naman na tutulungan nia Tayo, huwag tayong gumawa Ng karahasan para Hindi Tayo mabalingan Ng gobyerno, mag antay Tayo, kasi inaayos Naman nila para lahat matulungan, inilalagay nila sa ayos, Ang mga goods, pera para madistribute Ng maayos, eh Kung Tayo, pinipilit natin na gawin nila Yong gusto natin at pinipilit pa natin, Hindi nila malalagay sa ayos Kung ganon, Ang mangyayari gulo, para walang gulo just stay at home antayin Ang ayuda Ng gobyerno maraming salamat

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