Who is the President of the Philippines?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:44

The current President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, is not the first to see terror as a salvation from all troubles and the only sure way to eradicate evil. The eccentric political leader of the island nation is not afraid of the United States or anyone else in the world. The situation in the Philippines is now somewhat reminiscent of the Soviet Union in 1937.

The culprit of armed conflicts with Islamist groups and mass killings without trial is the President of the Philippines himself. This is the political course of Rodrigo Duterte, who has always had a very tough stance (especially towards drug traffickers).

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 office. The father of the leader of the Philippines - Vicente Duterte - was the governor of the island of Davao, but then only the future, but for nowengaged in private law 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 expelled twice for bad behavior, however, he still graduated. In 1968, Rodrigo received a Bachelor of Arts degree, and four years later he graduated from the College of Law. Then he got the right to practice as a lawyer. Soon he began working in the prosecutor's office, then became deputy (first fourth, then third and finally second) city prosecutor.

Position of Mayor of Davao Island

In 1986, events took place in the Philippines, which later became known as the Yellow Revolution. The Movement for Reform in the Army was created, which was supposed to organize a military coup and overthrow President Ferdinand Marcos. The rebellion was crushed, but later the Revolution was victorious. US officials advised Marcos to 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 has been governor for more than 22 years (seven terms with interruptions).

Already in those years, he was worried about the drug trade and the drug problem in the Philippines in general. On thefunds from the city budget was built a rehabilitation center for those suffering from drug addiction. In 2002, he increased the allowance by 2,000 pesos for every drug addict who personally came to him and promised to stop using drugs.

In 2013, the mayor sent medical personnel and rescuers to help victims of the typhoon in Haiyan. The victims of the earthquake 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 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 the politician. Smoking violated the anti-tobacco law, so the owner of the establishment, who could not do anything with a visitor 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 Human Rights Commission.

Repeatedly criticized politician and other human rights organizations, as well as the UN General Assembly. He was accused of killing criminals without trial or investigation. In 2015, the mayor publicly confirmed his connection to these deaths. Moreover, he even began to claim that when he became president, he would execute up to one hundred thousand criminals in the same way.

2015-2016 election campaign

In the same 2015 in the mediaDuterte declared his intention to participate in the presidential race and said that "we need to save the Philippines." 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 issue of participation in the elections of 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 the President of the Philippines again.

Acts in office

After winning the election, Duterte immediately began massacres of drug dealers. Even in his inaugural speech, he declared that he would kill all those who destroy children, referring specifically to drug dealers. In just a few weeks at the start of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's rule, nearly 2,000 people were killed. Despite such brutality, the president is still supported by 78% of citizens.

Philippines War on Drugs

The President of the Philippines became famous all over the world for his war on drugs, there is practically no information about his other actions. But the topic of the fight against Philippine drug traffickers excites everyone. Even as mayor, Rodrigo Duterte was nicknamed the Punisher or the Executioner for his excessive cruelty, although the countries of the Asia-Pacific region have always had tough drug laws.

The President of the Philippines hinted to the police and squads (civil activists) that the makers of the law will not be punished for the deaths of drug traffickers whenarrests 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 deposed President of the Philippines (2001) Joseph Estrada was quietly elected mayor of the capital. But earlier he was accused of corruption and imprisoned.

In 2016, 700,000 drug dealers voluntarily surrendered to the authorities to avoid lynching, an extrajudicial murder usually committed by street mobs. From the United States then harsh criticism followed, 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 Punishment Squad, but the witness was so confused in the testimony that there were no negative consequences for Duterte.

Sharp statements towards the US and the UN

The President of the Philippines, whose photo you can see in the article, has repeatedly spoken out in the direction of the United States and Europe. He stated that the UN cannot cope with ISIS, and reminded US President Barack Obama more than once that the Philippines is not a colony of America. Rodrigo Duterte called the UN Secretary General a fool, swore at the US President - and this is just what the world community remembers the most. His words have repeatedly provoked a strong reaction from the world media.