Like Donald Trump in the US, the world is witnessing the rise of another anti-establishment, venom-spewing presidential candidate – in the Philippines. Rodrigo Duterte, a 71-year-old self-confessed killer, has been roaring ahead in opinion polls. Duterte has been mayor of Davao City on the southern island of Mindanao for two decades, where he earned the nicknames “Duterte Harry” and “The Punisher” with endorsement of the execution of criminals. He has been compared to Trump for employing populist rhetoric to exploit the disappointment and frustration of people with mainstream parties. For example, Duterte started his campaign to become the president of a mainly Catholic country with a verbal attack on Pope, which was followed by a series of shocking, profanity-filled utterances. He told lawmakers he would shut down Congress if they did not follow his orders and is promising to kill tens of thousands of criminals. Like Trump, he has been appealing to the baser instincts of the electorate, appealing to their yearning for a strongman who can solve all their problems with brute force in the shortest time possible. Like Trump, he has only seen his popularity rise with each provocation and shock. The latest opinion poll shows Duterte as the top choice for 33 percent of respondents, 11 points ahead of nearest rival Grace Poe, with the third candidate Manuel Roxas at 20 percent. And finally, as in the US, the prospects of his election are causing jitters. Outgoing President Benigno Aquino yesterday urged other presidential candidates to join forces and stop the maverick mayor from winning next week’s election.
The support for Duterte only shows the frustration of Filipinos with their leaders, with the latter’s inability to solve the multitudes of problems they are facing, including crime and poverty. Filipinos are tired of the soaring rates of crimes and Duterte is promising a violent crackdown on criminals. He vows to stand up to China’s assertiveness in the disputed waters of the South China Sea and as a result enjoys the support of those fishermen who were once fishing in the disputed waters, now stopped by China from pursuing their trade. As an analyst in Manila put it, Duterte has become the symbol of deep disappointment, maybe even desperation, of those who have put their trust and hope in the elite in that country.
But the solution to deep-rooted problems doesn’t lie in electing a maverick. Politics and governance don’t work through confrontation and strong-arm tactics and economic and social problems can’t be solved through force and in few months. The election is on May 9 and if Duterte finally gets elected, despite Aquino’s fervent pleas to defeat him, the Philippine politics will enter a new phase. But the pressures and compulsions of power are likely to change Duterte.
Like Donald Trump in the US, the world is witnessing the rise of another anti-establishment, venom-spewing presidential candidate – in the Philippines. Rodrigo Duterte, a 71-year-old self-confessed killer, has been roaring ahead in opinion polls. Duterte has been mayor of Davao City on the southern island of Mindanao for two decades, where he earned the nicknames “Duterte Harry” and “The Punisher” with endorsement of the execution of criminals. He has been compared to Trump for employing populist rhetoric to exploit the disappointment and frustration of people with mainstream parties. For example, Duterte started his campaign to become the president of a mainly Catholic country with a verbal attack on Pope, which was followed by a series of shocking, profanity-filled utterances. He told lawmakers he would shut down Congress if they did not follow his orders and is promising to kill tens of thousands of criminals. Like Trump, he has been appealing to the baser instincts of the electorate, appealing to their yearning for a strongman who can solve all their problems with brute force in the shortest time possible. Like Trump, he has only seen his popularity rise with each provocation and shock. The latest opinion poll shows Duterte as the top choice for 33 percent of respondents, 11 points ahead of nearest rival Grace Poe, with the third candidate Manuel Roxas at 20 percent. And finally, as in the US, the prospects of his election are causing jitters. Outgoing President Benigno Aquino yesterday urged other presidential candidates to join forces and stop the maverick mayor from winning next week’s election.
The support for Duterte only shows the frustration of Filipinos with their leaders, with the latter’s inability to solve the multitudes of problems they are facing, including crime and poverty. Filipinos are tired of the soaring rates of crimes and Duterte is promising a violent crackdown on criminals. He vows to stand up to China’s assertiveness in the disputed waters of the South China Sea and as a result enjoys the support of those fishermen who were once fishing in the disputed waters, now stopped by China from pursuing their trade. As an analyst in Manila put it, Duterte has become the symbol of deep disappointment, maybe even desperation, of those who have put their trust and hope in the elite in that country.
But the solution to deep-rooted problems doesn’t lie in electing a maverick. Politics and governance don’t work through confrontation and strong-arm tactics and economic and social problems can’t be solved through force and in few months. The election is on May 9 and if Duterte finally gets elected, despite Aquino’s fervent pleas to defeat him, the Philippine politics will enter a new phase. But the pressures and compulsions of power are likely to change Duterte.
