Whichever direction the President takes, there looms the ugly picture of people dying quickly of the plague or slowly of starvation. If he vacillates on April 30, he lands between the extremes – but the scourge still spreads and takes more lives. Who knows, President Duterte, despite his having petered out on the job, might be emboldened to try staying beyond 2022 by writing a new social compact with oppressive features field-tested with COVID-19. President Duterte has often said Xi had assured him of help if the problem worsens, including the sharing of the cure or vaccine that China is developing. There are other Cabinet members who have expressed policy opinions that do not coincide with that of Duterte.

Source: Philippine Star April 18, 2020 15:56 UTC