How can we talk about the Philippines without mentioning its President: Rodrigo Duterte, a lawyer and statesman who has been at the head of the country since June 30, 2016.
Of course, there is no question of judging his action or his methods, already widely decried by the foreign media, he has his outspokenness which has earned him serious criticism and even reprisals, but he remains very appreciated by the majority of Filipinos who see the change he has brought to the country.
A lawyer by training, he worked at the prosecutor’s office in Davao (in southern Mindanao), his hometown, until 1986, when he was appointed vice-mayor following the February revolution that ousted Ferdinand Marcos. He became mayor in 1988 and implemented his policy of zero tolerance towards criminals (including the establishment of his death squads), which helped curb Davao’s reputation as the crime capital. Duterte earned the nickname ‘The Punisher’ during this time.
He took a stand for the indigenous communities and Muslim minorities, and did not hesitate to appoint representatives of these minorities as deputies.
On the strength of his popularity, he ended up running in the presidential elections, which he won on 9 May 2016 with 39% of the vote. He thus became the first president who speaks Cebuano, which delighted a large portion of the population (particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao regions).
His most controversial action is undoubtedly the war he initiated against drug trafficking and police corruption, which has led to numerous extrajudicial killings…
The increase in the budget allocated to public infrastructure is reflected in airport and road projects. His ‘Build Build Build’ program is bearing fruit and it shows: transportation is a priority (underground metro line, bridges, rehabilitation of the railway network in Luzon and Mindanao).
He also launches social reforms, advocates for transparency in government, makes public university education free, implements a healthcare coverage system for the poorest, and aimed to reduce citizen inequalities in taxation with the TRAIN economic reform (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion).
In terms of foreign affairs, he tends to distance himself from the United States to approach China and Russia.
During the COVID-19 crisis, he implemented lockdown measures starting from March 16, 2020, which evolved depending on the regions but still remain at least partially in place. He remains firm on certain points, notably opposing in-person schooling until there is a vaccine.
His term of office ends on 30 June 2022, after which he cannot run for re-election, in accordance with the law. He was succeeded by “Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr.“, who will be president for 6 years.