Manila: It’s been more than six months after the presidency of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ended.
In 2016, at age 71, the former state prosecutor was elected president, and was on record as the Asian country’s oldest leader. Now, as citizen Duterte, he isn’t simply fading into the sunset.
Better known for his fatherly-authoritarian leadership style, ardent Duterte supporters affectionately addressed him with the epithet “Tatay Digong” (Daddy Digong) when the long-time Davao City mayor became the country’s 16th president.
His six-year watch, which ended on June 30, 2022, has been remarkable — both in terms of the good deeds his army of supporters extol, as well as perceived misdeeds his critics point out.
Objectively, Duterte is best known for his extensive war on drugs, for which he drew plaudits from many, but also the ire of some, including human rights campaigners.
His populist touch was marked by fiery, often expletives-ridden rhetoric and contentious speeches. But he also proved to be a consummate storyteller, regaling his audiences with his off-the-cuff remarks.
Duterte is known to be fiercely loyal to friends and unforgiving towards his enemies.
Now, more than six months after he left the Presidential palace, he’d been seen taking the role of a father at wedding ceremony.
On January 5, 2023 he was seen with Senator Bong Go condoling former Philippine National Police chief and now-Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, whose mother passed away.
Duterte will be remembered for doing something no other Filipino leader had ever done before: hurling an invectives-laden tirade at a US leader (then-US President Barack Obama) — for allegedly failing to show respect for the sovereignty of the Philippines. He then unveiled an unprecedented “pivot” towards China.
'Build-build-build'
Perhaps his lasting legacy is “Build-Build-Build”, a bold $180-billion infrastructure spending program which until then was unparalleled in the Asian country. Official data showed it provided at least 6.5 million jobs to Filipinos, delivered 214 airport projects, 451 commercial social and tourism port projects, 29,264 km of roads, 5,950 bridges, 11,340 flood control projects, 11,340 evacuation centres. Moreover 150,149 classrooms had been completed.
He instituted a nationwide emergency number (911) and an anti-corruption hotline, known as "Citizens' Complaint Center" (8888).
He pushed phone companies to bring fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) services to the remotest towns and villages.
He's not done yet. Post presidency, Duterte is expected to revive a weekly TV show. “Gikan sa masa, Para sa masa” (From the Masses, For the Masses), will air on SMNI channel every Sunday, from January 22, from 7 pm to 10 pm, local media reported Friday. SMNI News Channel is a free-to-air TV station founded by Philippine-based sect leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted by the FBI for alleged sex trafficking of children, conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, among others.
Under the Philippine Constitution, however, a president is only allowed a single six-year term. In September 2021, Duterte revealed he would run for vice-president in the May 2022 elections.
It was one of his signature blusters. In the end, it was his daughter Sara, also a lawyer like her father, who ran for the post. She was elected vice-president, after getting more than 32 million (61 per cent) votes.
Perhaps a blot on his record is the jailing of ex-Senator Laila de Lima (now for 7 years running) on drug charges, in apparent retaliation for probes she led as Justice Secretary under the administration of former-President Benigno Aquino III (15th president), into Duterte’s extra-judicial killings while mayor of his home city.
Rafael Ragos, key prosecution witness, has since recanted his statement that initially pinned de Lima down as being a beneficiary of the drugs trade. While Ragos publicly asked for the forgiveness of de Lima — she still languishes in jail.
So love him or hate him, Duterte is arguably one of the most interesting politicians of the 21th century.
Deterte's wild popularity, however, was not enough to engineer a change in the country’s Charter that could have extended his six-year term, thereby allowing for a relatively smooth transition of power.
