Rodrigo Duterte

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[[File:President Rodrigo Roa Duterte 2017.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Ol Digong himself.]]
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{{cquote|[[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] [[Holocaust|massacred]] three million [[Jews]]. Now, there is {{sic}} three million drug addicts. I'd be happy to slaughter them.|||Rodrigo Duterte<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190610140540/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/09/29/duterte-hitler-killed-3-million-jews-i-will-kill-3-million-drug-dealers/ Emily Rauhala, "Duterte: Hitler killed millions of Jews, I will kill millions of drug addicts," ''The Washington Post'', Sep. 9, 2016, as displayed Jun. 10, 2019.]</ref>}}

'''Rodrigo Roa Duterte''' {{lived|1945}} (also known by his nicknames '''Digong''', '''Rody''', and by the initials '''DU30''' and '''PRRD''') was the [[President]] of the [[Philippines]] from 2016 to 2022. He has been compared to fellow authoritarian populist lunatics [[Donald Trump]] and [[Jair Bolsonaro]] for inappropriate remarks and being an outright [[asshole|dickhead]]. Unlike Trump, who only thought he could get away with killing someone in public, Duterte has actually repeatedly bragged of killing people he claimed were rapists and kidnappers.<ref>[https://pcij.org/2025/01/17/the-making-of-edgar-matobato/  The Making of Edgar Matobato] 17 January 2025, Philippine Consortium for Investigative Journalism.</ref>  This is an example of how a politician plays the {{wpl|Dexter Morgan}} card.<ref>[http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/12/09/15/duterte-confirms-killing-3-rapist-kidnappers Duterte confirms killing 3 rapist-kidnappers] by Kathlyn dela Cruz (Posted at 09 Dec 2015 08:27 PM | Updated as of 10 Dec 2015 01:31 AM) ABS-CBNnews.com</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38337746 Philippines: Duterte confirms he personally killed three men] (16 December 2016) ''BBC''.</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/philippines-leader-duterte-i-threw-rape-suspect-helicopter-would-do-n701076 Philippines Leader Duterte: I Threw Rape Suspect From Helicopter, Would Do it Again] (29 December 2016) ''NBC News''. </ref> In March 2025 Duterte was arrested by the ICC for crimes against humanity for overseeing the extrajudicial killings of suspected drug addicts and drug dealers while taking no steps to prevent the deaths of innocents in the process.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/rodrigo-duterte-manila-philippines-icc-9b9d08b8832b43282db53418535fb245 Philippine ex-leader Duterte is being flown to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity]</ref>

==The Mad Dog of Davao==
[[File:Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte in Manila (6).jpg|thumb|160px|left|Two clowns journeyed together.]]
During Duterte's tenure as mayor of Davao (1988-1998, 2001-2010, 2013-2016), he was allegedly complicit or outright encouraged the Davao Death Squad which operated from around 1993 onwards. The Davao Death Squad was infamous for extrajudicial killings of suspected drug dealers, petty criminals, and street children.<ref>{{wpa|Davao Death Squad}}</ref> In 2009, the Human Rights Council of the [[United Nations]] and [[Human Rights Watch]] accused Duterte of being supportive of the [[Extrajudicial execution|death squad]].<ref>[http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/11session/A.HRC.11.2.Add.8.pdf Promotion And Protection Of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social And Cultural Rights, Including The Right To Development] A/HRC/11/2/Add.8 (29 April 2009) UN General Assembly of the Human Rights Council</ref><ref>[https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/philippines0409webwcover_0.pdf "You Can Die Any Time": Death Squad Killings in Mindanao] (2009) ''Human Rights Watch''.</ref>

He is known for his [[War on Drugs]] as soon as he became President. He has often killed anyone who does [[drugs]] or simply suspected of doing so because apparently doing drugs is way worse than murdering people. [[Irony|Ironically]], there has been speculation that ''Duterte himself'' [[Hypocrisy|is a drug kingpin]], and has been using the whole "War on Drugs" stunt as a front to cover up his (alleged) involvement in the Mindanao underworld,<ref>[https://verafiles.org/articles/conversations-with-arturo-lascanas-duterte-is-the-lord-of-all-drug-lords-in-southern-philippines Conversations with Arturo Lascañas, Part 1: ‘Duterte is the lord of all drug lords in southern Philippines’]</ref> on top of his alleged connections with offshore gaming and online scam hubs run by foreigners.<ref name="Go">{{Cite news |last=Go |first=Miriam Grace |date=2024-09-07 |title=(Closer Look) Drugs, POGOs, Quiboloy: Duterte’s tyranny at the service of corruption |url=https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/closer-look-illegal-drugs-pogos-quiboloy-duterte-tyranny-service-corruption/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |language=en-US}}</ref> He has also been quite [[sexist]] and likes bragging about [[Rape|raping]] women<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/05/27/duterte-jokes-that-his-soldiers-can-rape-women-under-martial-law-in-the-philippines/ Duterte jokes that his soldiers can rape women under martial law in the Philippines] by Avi Selk (May 27, 2017) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> and otherwise attacking women's genitals.<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/duterte-shoot-female-rebels-private-parts-180212071345894.html Duterte: Shoot female rebels in their genitals. Rights groups slam Philippine president for the latest in a series of derogatory and demeaning comments about women.] by Ted Regencia (12 Feb 2018) ''Al Jazeera''.</ref> Duterte also uses [[homophobia|homophobic]] slurs, but it's okay because he [[conversion therapy|used to be gay]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190715015145/https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/06/01/mass-murdering-philippines-president-says-he-cured-himself-of-being-gay/ David Gee, "Mass-Murdering Philippines President Says He'Cured' Himself of Being Gay," ''Friendly Atheist'', June 1, 2019. Accessed July 14, 2019.]</ref>, but Duterte's homophobia is not a more conservative position than that of mainstream Filipino politicians, who are heavily Catholic. Indeed, Duterte has made rather conservative and harsh remarks on LGBTQ+ issues, but by Philippine standards, which are very conservative in actual policy, he is implementing a somewhat liberal LGBT policy.<ref>[https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1078233 Duterte meets transgender Gretchen Diez] (August 20, 2019) </ref><ref>[https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20191219052600084 Duterte, Philippines Holds Invitation Event for LGBT at Presidential Palace] (2019-12-19, In Korean) ''Yonhap News''</ref> Oddly enough Rodrigo Duterte ordered his hitmen to kill rapists, harassers, drug dealers, thieves and terrorists to death through Davao Death Squad. <ref>[https://pcij.org/2025/01/17/the-making-of-edgar-matobato/  The Making of Edgar Matobato], Coroner, Sheila, 17 January 2025, ''Philippine Consortium of Investigative Journalism''.</ref>

[[Crimes against humanity]] aside, Duterte has made many inflammatory statements in public: attacks against [[Pope Francis]] (the "son of a whore", which is also how he referred to [[Obama]]),<ref>[http://time.com/4328906/rodrigo-duterte-pope-francis-philippine-president-son-whore/ Rodrigo Duterte Wants to Apologize to Pope Francis for Calling Him a 'Son of a Whore'] by Nash (Jenkins May 13, 2016) ''Time''.</ref> the [[Catholic Church]] ("full of shit"),<ref>[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/865123/duterte-catholic-church-full-of-shit Duterte: Catholic Church 'full of shit'] by Leila B. Salaverria (07:48 PM January 24, 2017) ''Philippine Daily Inquirer''.</ref> and a [[rape]] "joke",<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/04/18/leading-philippines-presidential-contender-gang-rape-victim-so-beautiful-he-wishes-he-had-been-first/ Leading Philippine presidential contender: Gang rape victim ‘so beautiful’ he wishes he had 'been first'] by Travis M. Andrews (April 18, 2016) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> none of which have seemed to sway public opinion of him.<ref name=phillips>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/07/19/dutertes-drug-war-killed-thousands-and-filipinos-still-loved-him-then-he-called-god-stupid/ Rodrigo Duterte: Philippine president attacks Catholic Church, calls God 'stupid'] by Kristine Phillips (July 19, 2018) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> The last straw may have been Duterte's insulting [[God]]:<ref name=phillips/>
{{cquote|What he did was, [[Eve]] eats the apple, then she wakes up Adam.… So Adam eats the apple. Then, malice was born. Who is this stupid God? That [expletive] is really stupid if that's the case.…}}

Proving that he is unable to take even simple criticism, in 2020 Duterte was accused of being complicit in, if not outright responsible for, the broadcast shutdown of ABS-CBN, a major television network in the country, citing allegedly biased and unfavorable news coverage against Duterte beginning with his campaign in the 2016 Philippine presidential election among other things.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52548703 Philippines' top broadcaster ordered off air]</ref> Prior to the network's shutdown, he also sought to have independent news site Rappler suppressed over its exposes against Duterte's regime.<ref>[https://thediplomat.com/2018/09/dutertes-media-war-in-the-philippines/ Duterte's Media War in the Philippines]</ref>

While he is often called the "Filipino Trump," which makes him sound like a [[reactionary]], he self-identifies as a leftist. In fact, PDP–Laban, his (current) personal party, is also a democratic socialist and left-wing populist party.<ref>[https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1021283</ref><ref>https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/12/05/1765508/pdp-laban-accepting-new-members-until-february-2018</ref><ref>https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/405074</ref><ref>https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/09/08/news/headlines/2-chiong-rape-slay-convicts-back-in-jail/612868/</ref><ref>https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/10/duterte-us/505001/</ref> In other words, he is a very strange politician whose [[Third Position|extreme right-wing tendencies and leftist populist aspects]] coexist.

And like Trump, one columnist opined that Duterte exhibited a reality distortion field especially during his campaign, where his charisma and appeal to the masses–who were understandably anxious for change in the country–prevailed over both his human rights abuses and obscene remarks towards people and organizations, including but not limited to the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and even God himself, never mind the fact that the Philippines is majority Catholic.<ref>[https://www.manilatimes.net/2016/11/01/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/duterte-reality-distortion-field/294150/ Duterte has his own 'reality distortion field]</ref>

== Post-Malacañang ==
In 2022, the International Criminal Court launched an investigation on Duterte over human rights violations during the drug war. <ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/world/asia/philippines-duterte-hague.html?module=inline "International Criminal Court Will Investigate Duterte Over Drug War," Felipe Villamor, New York Times]</ref> In response, Duterte petulantly withdrew the Philippines from the ICC, but prosecutors said he cannot stop the probe no matter what.<ref>[https://globalnation.inquirer.net/183168/icc-prosecutor-probe-of-duterte-cant-be-stopped "ICC prosecutor: Probe of Duterte can’t be stopped," Global Nation Inquirer]</ref> As he was term-limited, Duterte might very well be indicted by the ICC for crimes against humanity as an ex-president. Duterte himself hinted that he may be arrested by the ICC any time for his atrocities.<ref>[https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1900249/rodrigo-duterte-gets-info-he-may-be-arrested-at-any-time-harry-roque Rodrigo Duterte gets info he may be arrested at any time]</ref> As of November 2024 former President Duterte faces multiple congressional hearings related to allegations of crimes against humanity. <ref>[https://apnews.com/article/71de48e00c77c70ce37cf67146a94d12. 
Philippines says it will cooperate if ICC Seeks Duterte’s custody of Drug Killings] Gomez, Jim, ‘’Associated Press’’, 13 November 2024.</ref>.

Duterte was succeeded by {{wpl|Bongbong Marcos|Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr}}, son of the country's former dictator. Much to Duterte's chagrin, Marcos picked his daughter Sara Duterte as running mate. (Duterte was planning to [[nepotism|make her his own political heir]].) As Marcos had the support of almost the entire political establishment (despite [[astroturf|running as a populist]]), Duterte did not publicly object to his campaign. However, as differences between the two have become more clear, their rivalry has gone public, and they have even accused each other of being drug addicts.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68137494 Philippines: Is the unstoppable Marcos-Duterte alliance headed for divorce?] ''BBC'', 7 May 2024.</ref> Indeed, Sara proved to be a thorn on Marcos's side, as the younger Duterte have publicly spoke out her objections towards Marcos Jr.'s presidency, particularly Bongbong's falling out with both his erstwhile ally [[Apollo Quiboloy]]–who staunchly endorsed him in the 2022 presidential election yet ended up somehow betraying Marcos due in part to a [[fake news]] item made against one of Bongbong's relatives–and the Duterte clan in general. In a rally held during the anniversary of Quiboloy's sect Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), Sara apologised to members of the KOJC of whom she wooed into voting for Bongbong Marcos<ref name="Gonzales">{{Cite news |last=Gonzales |first=Angelo |date=2024-09-01 |title=Sara Duterte celebrates KOJC anniversary with thousands of Quiboloy followers |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/sara-duterte-celebrates-kojc-anniversary-thousands-apollo-quiboloy-followers/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |work=Rappler |language=en-US}}</ref> and lashed out at [[law enforcement]] for perceived excessive force during the raids at the Quiboloy estate; the irony is not lost when the Dutertes were called out for crying human rights abuses over their friend and spiritual adviser even when they themselves have been accused of human rights abuses to begin with.<ref name="Subingsubing">{{Cite news |last=Subingsubing |first=Krixia |date=2024-03-14 |title=VP Sara chided for defending Quiboloy |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1918314/sara-chided-for-defending-quiboloy |access-date=2024-09-07 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |language=en}}</ref> 

===Like father, like daughter===
In November 2024 the current Vice President of the Philippines and daughter of Rodrigo Duterte, Sara Duterte ranted about assassinating the current president of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/philippine-president-ferdinand-marcos-jr-vice-president-sara-duterte-e703086041eab5eb600cef12f90a87da. Philippine police file criminal complaints against Sara Duterte and her security aides] 27 November 2024, Associated Press.</ref> This is while the father and daughter power duo were facing a congressional investigation over corruption and human rights violations.<ref>[https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/sara-duterte-again-skirts-questions-confidential-funds-use-november-27-2024/#error=login_required&state=01ca05d5-743e-4a41-8ea4-62d721a3e76c&iss=https%3A%2F%2Fsso.rappler.com%2Frealms%2Frappler. Sara Duterte again skirts questions on confidential funds use] 27 November 2024, Rappler. </ref><ref>[https://www.rappler.com/philippines/duterte-quad-committee-hearing-november-13-summary/#error=login_required&state=33c5de9d-ad4d-4740-a396-3a59a76a7701&iss=https%3A%2F%2Fsso.rappler.com%2Frealms%2Frappler. As Duterte sparks fireworks in the House, a mother weeps], 14 November 2024, Rappler.</ref>

The assassination threat Sara Duterte is accused of having given points in two directions: one is to prevent the ICC from prosecuting Rodrigo Duterte after the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration agreed to cooperate with the ICC to prosecute the former President. The other one is related to a corruption investigation Sara Duterte herself is involved in after one of her staff members was ordered to be detained in relation to the congressional hearing over the Vice President misusing funds for questionable reasons. As of December 2024, Congress has been petitioned to impeach Duterte,<ref>[https://www.rappler.com/philippines/sara-duterte-response-possible-impeachment-november-27-2024/ Sara Duterte: ‘If I get impeached, then that’s my end’] 28 November 2024, Rappler.</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippine-groups-launch-impeachment-bid-against-vice-president-monday-2024-12-02/ Philippine groups seek impeachment of Vice President Duterte], 2 December 2024, Reuters.</ref> More impeachment complaints have been filed since that petition, and a hearing is scheduled to take place in 2025.<ref>[https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1240275 Third impeachment complaint vs. VP Sara Duterte filed in House] 19 December 2024, Philippine News Agency.</ref>. According to a 2025 poll 4 in 10 Filipino voters are in favor for Sara Duterte to be impeached. This comes as more complaints are directed at both Sara and Rodrigo Duterte.<ref>[https://www.rappler.com/philippines/sara-duterte-impeachment-survey-december-2024/   4 in 10 Filipinos favor Sara Duterte’s impeachment – SWS] 8 January 2025, Rappler.</ref> As of February 2025 The Philippine House of Representatives has 215 out of 306 votes to have an impeachment trial in the senate. <ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippine-lawmakers-back-petition-seeking-vice-presidents-impeachment-2025-02-05/  Philippine Congress paves way for impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte], 5 February 2025, Reuters.</ref> <ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c334l5zn5ero.amp  Philippines feud escalates as lawmakers vote to impeach vice-president] 5 February 2025, BBC News.</ref> Following her father's arrest in March 2025, Sara claimed that the senior Duterte was held against his will and that the ICC's actions were a violation of the country’s sovereignty. However the ICC argued that they were investigating Duterte for some of the killings leading up to the Philippines pulling out of the ICC membership in 2019.<ref>[https://aje.io/lfcjek Philippine VP Sara Duterte travels to The Hague to help father at ICC] 12 March 2025, ''Al-Jazeera''</ref> Ever since the 2025 arrest of Rodrigo Duterte, Sara Duterte has held multiple political rallies in the Netherlands demanding that Rodrigo Duterte is released even though the victims of the Drug War and Corruption has some concerns that the Dutertes will taint their testimony. <ref>[https://manilastandard.net/news/314571981/rody-confident-of-winning-icc-casesara.html. Rody confident of winning ICC case—Sara], 25 March 2025, The Manila Standard.</ref>

While Sara Duterte is running rallies in the Netherlands to get Rodrigo Duterte free, the Philippine House and Senate have uncovered more evidence providing for grounds of impeachment. The evidence specifically relates to Sara Duterte misusing funds approved by Congress and putting them under multiple fictitious names.<ref>[https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/03/31/more-fictitious-names-found-on-saras-list-of-beneficiaries/  More fictitious names found on Sara’s list of beneficiaries], 31 March 2025, Business Mirror</ref><ref>[https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/31/house-prosecutor-more-dubious-names-on-confidential-funds-strengthen-case-vs-sara-duterte-1944 House prosecutor: More 'dubious' names on confidential funds strengthen case vs Sara Duterte], 31 March 2025, ABS-CBN News.</ref> As of June 2025 there will be a Senate Impeachment Trial for Sara Duterte but there are also plans to dismiss the trial.<ref>[https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-06-04/top-philippine-senator-to-seek-dismissal-of-duterte-impeachment-case. Top Philippine Senator to Seek Dismissal of Duterte Impeachment Case], 4 June 2025, US News and World Report.</ref> So far as of June 2025 the Impeachment of Sara Duterte returns to the Philippine House of Representatives and a response from them over the allegations and methods. However there are allies of Duterte in the Philippine Senate such as Senator Bato De La Rosa that have wanted to get the Duterte Impeachment case dismissed. However that calls into the credibility of Senator Bato De La Rosa over his close ties to both Rodrigo and Sara Duterte in the War on Drugs  from the ICC Trial.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/philippines-vice-presidential-sara-duterte-impeachment-520c4e4adb6f32975e90efdfbc5165d6  Senators return the impeachment case against Sara Duterte to the Philippine House] 10 June 2025, Associated press.</ref> <ref>[https://www.rappler.com/philippines/dela-rosa-drafted-senate-resolution-junk-sara-duterte-impeachment/  Dela Rosa says he drafted Senate resolution dismissing VP Sara’s impeachment], 4 June 2025, Rappler.</ref> As of July 2025 the Philippine Supreme Court has dismissed the Senate Impeachment on Sara Duterte and they declared that the House impeachment on Sara Duterte is unconstitutional.<ref>[https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/26/asia-pacific/politics/philippine-court-sara-duterte-impeachment-unlawful/  Philippine court says Sara Duterte impeachment unlawful], 25 July 2025, The Japan Times.</ref>

As of 2026 Vice President Sara Duterte faces another impeachment complaint tied to her office misusing the country's funds for reasons tied to political corruption. <ref>[https://apnews.com/article/philippines-vice-president-sara-duterte-impeachment-corruption-ff1df5501af66ff0ce98267d86100ff4  Philippine vice president faces 2 new impeachment bids after surviving attempt last year], 2 February 2026, The Associated Press.</ref>

===Another Family Member gets their own scandal===
A third family member of the Dutertes get their own scandal specifically Congressman Paolo Duterte of Davao in the the form of assault and harassment allegations that allegedly took place at a bar.  The complaint was that he assaulted a person at the bar and security footage showed him in the act.<ref>[https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2057990/paolo-duterte-stays-silent-over-threat-injuries-raps-filed-against-him  Paolo Duterte stays silent over threat, injuries raps filed against him], 2 May 2025, Philippine Inquirer.</ref> This comes as Paolo Duterte run for his congressional seat in the 2025 elections.<ref>[https://www.rappler.com/philippines/davao-businessman-patria-files-complaint-paolo-duterte-threats-injuries/  Davao businessman files complaint vs Paolo Duterte for threats, injuries], 2 May 2025, Rappler</ref> As of May 2025 there is also an investigation over how Paolo Duterte's bodyguards handles the situation. <ref>[https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2059545/afp-seeks-to-identify-two-soldiers-in-viral-paolo-duterte-video  AFP seeks to identify two soldiers in viral Paolo Duterte video], 9 May 2025, Philippine Inquirer.</ref>

=== Stopped clock? Or maybe not... ===
In spite of all the lunacy he exhibited both pre-and-post presidency, Duterte [[Stopped clock|still somehow felt]] that [[Vladimir Putin]], of whom he refers to as a "friend" and an "idol",<ref name="Bostock">{{Cite news |last=Bostock |first=Bill |title=Philippines president who once called Putin his 'idol' slams him for killing civilians in Ukraine, becoming first ally of the Russian president to speak out |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/philippines-duterte-called-putin-idol-now-slams-ukraine-invasion-2022-5 |access-date=2024-09-08 |work=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> has needlessly crossed the line with his so-called "[[bullshit|special military operation]]" in [[Ukraine]] in 2022. He publicly admits having people killed in his bloody campaign against criminals and drug fiends, yet claims to have drawn the line with the idea of invading Ukraine as innocent civilians are caught in the conflict. The irony is not lost as Duterte's own special operation has also needlessly claimed the lives of otherwise innocent civilians lumped together with drug dealers, due process be damned.<ref name="Noriega">{{Cite news |last=Noriega |first=Richa |date=2022-04-12 |title=Duterte: What Putin is doing in Ukraine deserves condemnation, ‘hindi maganda’ |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/828351/duterte-what-putin-is-doing-in-ukraine-deserves-condemnation-hindi-maganda/story/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |work=GMA News |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Ranada">{{Cite news |last=Ranada |first=Pia |date=2022-05-23 |title=Duterte to Putin: Control your soldiers, spare civilians |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/duterte-says-putin-control-your-soldiers-spare-civilians/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |work=Rappler |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Arrest ===
On March 11, 2025, Duterte was arrested by authorities for crimes against humanity charges upon arrival in Manila<ref name="duterterekt">{{Cite news |date=2025-03-11 |title=Rodrigo Duterte: Philippines ex-leader Duterte arrested on ICC warrant over drug killings |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp9ykn85401o |access-date=2025-03-11 |work=[[BBC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> after a trip to Hong Kong ostensibly for a [[Apollo Quiboloy|Kingdom of Jesus Christ]]-organized campaign sortie for Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs); though it is speculated that the trip may have been a cover for Duterte's flight to evade justice by seeking asylum.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hofileña|first=Chay F.|title=ICC arrest warrant for Duterte out?|url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/international-criminal-court-icc-arrest-warrant-rodrigo-duterte/|access-date=March 9, 2025|work=Rappler|publisher=Rappler Inc.|date=March 8, 2025|quote=Two weeks ago, there had been word that a warrant was forthcoming and that the Philippine National Police (PNP) had to put in place an arrest plan. That information had apparently been leaked to the Duterte camp — whether deliberately or not is unclear.}}</ref><ref>[https://apnews.com/article/rodrigo-duterte-manila-philippines-icc-9b9d08b8832b43282db53418535fb245 Former President Rodrigo Duterte arrested in the Philippines on an ICC warrant over Drug Killings] 11 March 2025, ‘’Associated Press’’.</ref> Richard Heydarian, Senior Lecturer at the University of the Philippines and author of ''The Rise of Duterte'', opined that the arrest is "highly consequential" on most fronts as it represented a rare opportunity for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to bring an alleged international criminal to their court and met out justice, something which the ICC was unable to carry out with [[Vladimir Putin]] and [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], both of whom also have outstanding arrest warrants for similar crimes against humanity.<ref name="consequential">{{Cite news |date=2025-03-11 |title=Duterte arrest ‘highly consequential’ says Philippines expert |url=https://www.channel4.com/news/duterte-arrest-highly-consequential-says-philippines-expert |access-date=2025-03-12 |work=Channel 4 News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Some however have noted that the swift pace of Duterte's arrest and subsequent prosecution to The Hague was more of a Machiavellian strategy on Marcos's part to snuff out competition whilst ostensibly presenting themselves as complying with international law; it wasn't so much that they ''cared'' about what the ICC found about Duterte's atrocities (in fact, Marcos himself explicitly stated that he isn't directly cooperating with the ICC but rather complied with the Interpol's requests to have the former president turned over), they simply took the opportunity to weaponise an international organisation's investigation against Duterte and his countless crimes against humanity so Marcos's party could gain a majority control over government institutions, further eroding what little control his rivals have over the Philippines.<ref name="dimsum">{{Cite web |date=2025-03-16 |title=How Marcos Jr's ICC gambit against Duterte reveals the dark art of Philippine politics |url=https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/how-marcos-jrs-icc-gambit-against-duterte-reveals-the-dark-art-of-philippine-politics/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Dimsum Daily |language=en-US}}</ref>

== "HEIL DIGONG!" ==
Duterte is notable for having cultivated a [[personality cult]] attached to him, his family and posse, both before and after his ascent to the presidency, never mind the numerous atrocities to his name (besides his anti-Catholic rhetoric which even some pious folk in the country [[Cognitive dissonance|somehow overlooked]]). He enjoyed high approval ratings from ordinary citizens even after he stepped down from public office in 2022,<ref name="ABCNews-WeedonAlan">{{Cite news |last=Weedon |first=Alan |date=May 10, 2019 |title='Gold, guns and goons': Why the Philippines' Rodrigo Duterte remains incredibly popular |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-10/duterte-rodrigo-philippines-president-popular-despite-criticism/11058752 |access-date=December 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015044350/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-10/duterte-rodrigo-philippines-president-popular-despite-criticism/11058752 |archive-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Philippine News Agency">{{Cite news |last=Parrocha |first=Azer |date=April 11, 2022 |title=Duterte's end of term high rating 'rarity' in PH pres'l politics |language=en |work=[[Philippine News Agency]] |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172012 |access-date=May 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411234748/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172012 |archive-date=April 11, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Cruz-2022" /> and leagues of protesters picketed both in his native Philippines<ref name="VisMin Protests">{{cite web |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/939105/rodrigo-duterte-supporters-protest-assemble-visayas-mindanao-arrest-icc/story/ |title=Rodrigo Duterte supporters in the Visayas, Mindanao protest arrest of former president |publisher=GMA News Online |date=March 13, 2025 |access-date=March 13, 2025 }}</ref> and at The Hague where pro-Duterte expatriate Filipinos held protests in support of their Führer after he was arrested and hastily sent there in 2025. Such is Duterte's charm and sway with the people that it inspired grassroots movements such as the {{wpl|Diehard Duterte Supporters}} and even youth wings like the suspiciously-named {{wpl|Duterte Youth||.}}{{efn|{{wpl|Hitler Youth|They're not even trying to be subtle}} about it.}} Duterte's enduring popularity has been driven in part by resentment by both expatriate workers{{efn|Known as {{wpl|Overseas Filipino Workers}} or OFWs}} who struggle to make ends meet for themselves and their families abroad,<ref name=bello2019a>{{cite web|url=https://www.rosalux.de/dokumentation/id/41148|author-link=Walden Bello|last=Bello y Flores|first=Walden|date=2019-09-30|title=The Global Rise of the Far Right|website=[[Rosa Luxemburg Foundation]]|access-date=2021-07-14|archive-date=2021-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714045357/https://www.rosalux.de/dokumentation/id/41148|url-status=live}}</ref> and disillusionment with the perceived ineptitude and unfulfilled promises by the first and second EDSA revolutions.<ref name=docena2017>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/why-duterte-has-to-be-ousted|title=Why Duterte has to be ousted, and why even that won't be enough to defend ourselves|website=Rappler|date=26 August 2017|access-date=29 March 2021|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418055825/https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/why-duterte-has-to-be-ousted|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=chua2020>{{cite web|date=2020-08-29|title=The End of Liberal Democracy in the Philippines|website=Lausan Collective|last=Chua|first=Ethan|url=https://lausan.hk/2020/the-end-of-liberal-democracy-in-the-philippines|access-date=2021-04-23|archive-date=2021-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517000519/https://lausan.hk/2020/the-end-of-liberal-democracy-in-the-philippines/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=magsalin2020>Magsalin, S. (2020, March 31). ''Towards an anarchism in the Philippine archipelago''. Southeast Asian Anarchist Library. https://sea.theanarchistlibrary.org/library/simoun-magsalin-towards-an-anarchism-in-the-philippine-archipelago-en {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418055826/https://sea.theanarchistlibrary.org/library/simoun-magsalin-towards-an-anarchism-in-the-philippine-archipelago-en |date=2021-04-18 }}</ref> To top it all off, commentators have noted that such movements have become part of the global far right and [[alt-right]].<ref name=bello2019a>{{cite web|url=https://www.rosalux.de/dokumentation/id/41148|author-link=Walden Bello|last=Bello y Flores|first=Walden|date=2019-09-30|title=The Global Rise of the Far Right|website=[[Rosa Luxemburg Foundation]]|access-date=2021-07-14|archive-date=2021-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714045357/https://www.rosalux.de/dokumentation/id/41148|url-status=live}}</ref>

Duterte's rise to national prominence and subsequent enduring popularity had also coincided with the rise of [[fake news]] and content farm outlets on [[Facebook]] and other [[social media]] platforms churning out misleading if not patently [[bullshit]] fluff skewed in favour of Duterte's brutal regime through misinformation and other deceitful means, more often than not downplaying if not outright [[denialism|denying]] that the crackdowns are as brutal as it really is.<ref name="Ratcliffe">{{Cite news |last=Ratcliffe |first=Rebecca |last2=Lamb |first2=Kate |date=2025-03-14 |title=The senator, the priest, the forensic pathologist: the people who brought ex-president Duterte to justice |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/14/the-senator-the-priest-the-forensic-pathologist-the-people-who-bought-ex-president-duterte-to-justice |access-date=2025-03-15 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Pro-Duterte pundits like {{wpl|Mocha Uson||,}} a former exotic dancer and media personality,<ref name="socmedreg">{{Cite web |title=Social Media Regulation |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/373406162/Social-Media-Regulation |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Scribd |language=en}}</ref> have been instrumental in keeping the Duterte hype machine alive at all costs, even if Mocha's punditry and administrative competence (or lack thereof) have been subject to both criticism and scorn by the better informed,<ref name="mochaUsonControversial">{{cite news |title=Mocha Uson's controversial Facebook 'blog' now unavailable |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/03/21/2002503/mocha-usons-controversial-facebook-blog-now-unavailable |publisher=The Philippine Star |date=March 21, 2020}}</ref> earning her the pejorative title "Queen of Fake News".<ref name="philippineMidtermElections">{{cite news |last1=Robles |first1=Alan |title=Philippine midterm elections: Mocha Uson, 'queen of fake news', fails to win House seat |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3010373/philippine-midterm-elections-mocha-uson-queen-fake-news-fails |publisher=South China Morning Post |date=May 15, 2019}}</ref><ref name="inqMochaUsonDefendDuterte">{{cite news|last1=Salaverria|first1=Leila|title=Mocha Uson to defend Duterte against misinformation in media|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/895904/mocha-uson-to-defend-duterte-against-misinformation-in-media|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=May 11, 2017}}</ref> Investigative reporter Christina Chi also uncovered over 200 [[Facebook]] accounts and pages parroting copypasta'd screeds spinning pro-Duterte narratives which framed his arrest as "kidnapping" and an "illegal detention"; in subsequent weeks, reputable news media outlets such as [[Reuters]] confirmed that a wave of "pro-Duterte misinformation" did take place to agitate popular support for the former president.<ref name="misinfo">{{Cite web |date=2025-04-25 |title=How a Filipino reporter exposed the disinformation networks defending Duterte after his arrest | Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism |url=https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/how-filipino-reporter-exposed-disinformation-networks-defending-duterte-after-his-arrest |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Reuters Institute |language=en}}</ref>

In a March 2025 Philippine House of Representatives hearing, several pro-Duterte pundits were called to testify over content they posted on social media. Some of the bloggers – namely Krizette Chu and MJ Quiambao – tearfully apologised to members of Congress over the posts they made online, such as a supposed "mass resignation" of Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers in relation to Duterte's arrest and prosecution, despite the PNP refuting such claims; Chu maintained that the reports were [[Just asking questions|based on impressions]] i.e. rumours: “That’s why I included ‘daw (supposed)’ — these were impressions.” Quiambao was similarly grilled for a [[denialist]] claim that the Drug War was supposedly a hoax, insinuating in her op-ed that some groups were mislabeling their deceased loved ones as extrajudicial killing victims.<ref name="deleon">{{Cite news |last=de Leon |first=Dwight |date=2025-03-21 |title=At House hearing, pro-Duterte vloggers apologize for 'fake news,' rude social media post |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/house-hearing-pro-duterte-vloggers-apologize-fake-news-online/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321122047/https://www.rappler.com/philippines/house-hearing-pro-duterte-vloggers-apologize-fake-news-online/ |archive-date=2025-03-21 |access-date=2025-03-24 |work=Rappler |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Despite all this, Duterte remains a highly polarising figure in his native country, as while swathes of Filipinos are swayed by his [[bullshit]] very much like what Hitler did and would defend their grand poobah regardless of his sins, others – particularly the Catholic Church (whom Duterte have repeatedly mocked and cussed at), human rights advocates and progressive circles – have been a Cassandra of sorts reminding the public that Duterte is the evil incarnate with a lot of blood in his hands.<ref name="Calimbahin">{{Cite web |last=Calimbahin |first=Cleo Anne A. |title=Polarized Opinion: The Arrest of Duterte |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2025/03/polarized-opinion-the-arrest-of-duterte?lang=en |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Ba'ath Party]] - The formerly dominant party in the Arab world, with far-right and far-left elements.
*[[Aleksander Dugin]] - another third position adherent.
*[[Apollo Quiboloy]] - one of Duterte's best buddies.
*[[Third Position]] - Duterte’s ideology.
*[[Vladimir Putin]] - his buddy in Russia.
*[[Donald Trump]] - another far-right populist.
*[[Najib Razak]] - his Malaysian counterpart. 
*[[Prabowo Subianto]] - his Indonesian counterpart.
*[[Jair Bolsonaro]] - his Brazilian counterpart.

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Duterte, Rodrigo}}
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