Today's President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte is not the first to see in terror a salvation from all troubles and the only sure way to eradicate evil. The eccentric political leader of an island nation is not afraid of either the United States or anyone else in the world. The situation in the Philippines is now somewhat reminiscent of the 1937 Soviet Union.
The culprit of armed conflicts with Islamic groups and mass killings without trial is the president of the Philippines himself. Such is the political course of Rodrigo Duterte, which has always been very tough (especially in relation to drug dealers).
The childhood and youth of the future dictator
The future head of state was born in 1945 on the island of Leyte. Rodrigo's mother - Soledad Roa - worked as a teacher and was engaged in social activities. She died in 2012, four years before her son took a high post. The father of the leader of the Philippines - Vicente Duterte - was the governor of the island of Davao, but then only the future, and while engaged in private legal practice.
The family moved to the island of Davao, which was the start of the political career of both Rodrigo's father and himself, in 1961. A year later, the father of the future leader began to closely engage in politics, and his mother quit her job to help him.
Rodrigo Duterte graduated from elementary school in 1956. After he entered the Academy of the Holy Cross, but was twice expelled for misconduct, though he still graduated. In 1968, Rodrigo received a bachelor of arts degree, and after another four years he graduated from the College of Law. Then he got the right to practice law. Soon he began to work in the prosecutor's office, then became the deputy (first fourth, then third and finally second) prosecutor of the city.
Mayor of Davao Island
In 1986, events occurred in the Philippines, which later became known as the Yellow Revolution. The Army Reform Movement was created, which was to organize a military coup and overthrow President Ferdinand Marcos. The rebellion was crushed, but later the Revolution triumphed. US officials recommended that Marcos leave the country, which he did.
After the change of power, the future president of the Philippines, Duterte, was appointed to the position of vice mayor of Davao. Two years later, he ran for mayor and defeated his rivals. In total, the politician was the governor for more than 22 years (seven terms intermittently).
Already in those years he was worried about drug trafficking and, in general, the drug problem in the Philippines. With funds from the city budget, a rehabilitation center was built for drug addicts. In 2002, he increased the allowance by 2 thousand pesos to every drug addict who personally came to him and promised to give up drugs.
In 2013, the mayor sent medical personnel and rescuers to help typhoon victims in Haiyang. The earthquake victims in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol were provided with material assistance.
Criticism from human rights organizations
Talking about the future president of the Philippines, Duarte began back in those years when he was mayor. In 2015, one of the tourists, who refused to put out a cigarette in a bar, personally met a politician. Smoking violated the anti-tobacco law of the measure, so the owner of the institution, who could not do anything with visitors who violated local laws, simply called the governor. He personally arrived at the bar and forced the tourist to swallow a cigarette butt. For this incident, Duterte was criticized by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights.
Repeatedly criticized the politician and other human rights organizations, as well as the UN General Assembly. He was accused of killing criminals without trial. In 2015, the mayor publicly confirmed his connection with these deaths. Moreover, he even began to argue that becoming president, he would execute in the same way up to one hundred thousand criminals.
The election campaign of 2015-2016
In the same 2015, in the media Duterte announced his intention to participate in the presidential race and said that "the Philippines must be saved." In case of victory, he promised to transform the country into a federal parliamentary republic (now the Philippines is a presidential republic, a unitary state). The question of participation in the elections, Rodrigo Duterte, was removed several times, he either claimed that he did not have sufficient qualifications for such a high position, then he was going to become president of the Philippines again.
Acting as President
Having won the election, Duterte immediately began the mass killings of drug dealers. Even in an inaugural speech, he stated that he would kill all those who destroy children, referring specifically to drug dealers. In just a few weeks, about two thousand people were killed at the beginning of the reign of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Despite such cruelty, the president is still supported by 78% of citizens.
The war on drugs in the Philippines
The President of the Philippines became famous throughout the world precisely for his war on drugs; there is practically no information about his other actions. But the theme of the fight against the Philippine drug dealers excites everyone. While still mayor, Rodrigo Duterte was nicknamed the Punisher or the Executioner for his excessive cruelty, although the countries of the Asia-Pacific region have always been distinguished by strict drug laws.
The President of the Philippines hinted to the police and squads (civic activists) that the perpetrators of the law will not be punished for the death of drug dealers during detentions and raids. The government, led by Rodrigo Duterte, was determined to eradicate the drug trade altogether.
By the way, Duterte’s tough stance did not extend to corruption and other negative phenomena in society. For example, the overthrown president of the Philippines (2001) Joseph Estrada was quietly elected mayor of the capital. But before he was accused of corruption and imprisoned.
In 2016, 700, 000 drug traffickers voluntarily surrendered to the authorities in order to avoid Lynch’s reprisal - murder without trial and investigation, usually carried out by a street mob. The United States was then followed by harsh criticism; the President of the Philippines was accused of violating human rights. In October 2016, the Senate began to listen to the testimony of one of the former members of the “Punitive Squad”, but the witness was so confused in the testimony that there were no negative consequences for Duterte.
