Mutiny possible if medical equipment not delivered to military hospitals, Duterte warns

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday warned that a coup d'etat or mutiny is possible if medical equipment for military hospitals have not been delivered.

"If this is the way how you treat our soldiers, and they are dying now, and that machine was ordered a year ago, then [a] coup d'etat ... a mutiny is not a surprise," Duterte said during his second State of the Nation Address.

The President has long complained about the delay in the purchase of the hospital equipment, which he promised way back in August last year.

During his visit to the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City then, Duterte said he would not want to follow the government’s “lowest bid” rule.

In his SONA, Duterte reiterated his warning to Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial that he will fire her if she does not change the procurement procedures.

"Kaya sabi ko kay Ubial, hindi niya kasalanan because it is the procurement," he said.

He then looked for Ubial in the crowd, and said: "Secretary Ubial, change the procedure because I will change you."

Ubial only smiled at Duterte in response. — RSJ, GMA News