Duterte lauds law-abiding Pinoys amid US rage over black man's death

President Rodrigo Duterte praised “law-abiding” Filipinos as he commented on the developments in the United States, where the death of a black man in police custody sparked protests against racism and misconduct of authorities.

Speaking at a briefing with Cabinet officials in Davao City, Duterte said there seems to be “no end in sight” to the unrest following the death of George Floyd last week.

“Wala naman tayong racist ano dito na gaya ng Amerika,” Duterte said in an address aired on Friday.

“Mabuti’t na lang hindi tayo ganun at [timing] naman that the Filipinos are really law-abiding. Imagine if Amerika ito [Philippines], how can you enforce the lockdown and itong quarantine?”

US President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy the US military to quell civil unrest, a pronouncement met with criticisms from various quarters, and was opposed by his own defense secretary.

Floyd's death on May 25 has become the latest flash point for rage over police brutality against African Americans, propelling the issue of race to the top of the political agenda ahead of the US presidential election on Nov. 3, according to Reuters's report .

A white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on the neck of Floyd, who later died  while in police custody, Agence France-Presse reported. —LBG, GMA News