Rodrigo Roa Duterte 

(/dəˈtɜːrteɪ/; Tagalog: [roˈdɾigo ɾowa dʊˈtɛɾtɛ] ( listen); born March

28, 1945), also known as Digong, Rody[9] and by the initials PRRD,[10][11] is a Filipino
politician who is the 16th and incumbent president of the Philippines and the first
from Mindanao to hold the office.[12][13][14][15]
He is the chairperson of PDP–Laban, the ruling political party in the Philippines. Duterte
took office at age 71 on June 30, 2016, making him the oldest person to assume the
Philippine presidency; the record was previously held by Sergio Osmeña at the age of
65.[16] Born in Maasin, Leyte (now in Southern Leyte), Duterte moved to Davao as a child
where his father, Vicente Duterte, served as provincial governor. He studied political
science at the Lyceum of the Philippines University, graduating in 1968, before obtaining
a law degree from San Beda College of Law in 1972. He then worked as a lawyer and
was a prosecutor for Davao City, before becoming vice mayor and, subsequently, mayor
of the city in the wake of the 1986 People Power Revolution. Duterte won seven terms
and served as mayor of Davao for over 22 years.
Duterte's 2016 presidential campaign led to his election victory. During his presidency,
his domestic policy has focused on combating the illegal drug trade by initiating the
controversial war on drugs, fighting crime, and corruption,[17][18][19] launching a massive
infrastructure plan[20][21] and a proposed shift to a federal system of government. He also
oversaw the controversial burial of Ferdinand Marcos, the 2017 Battle of Marawi and
the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He declared the intention to
pursue an "independent foreign policy", and strengthened relations
with China and Russia.[22] He initially announced his candidacy for vice president in
the 2022 election, but in October 2021, he announced that he was retiring from politics.
On November 15, 2021, he filed his candidacy for Senator.
His political positions have been described as populist[23][24][25] and nationalist.[26][27]
[28] Duterte's political success has been aided by his vocal support for the extrajudicial
killing of drug users and other criminals.[29] His career has sparked numerous
protests and attracted controversy, particularly over human rights issues and his
controversial comments. Duterte has repeatedly confirmed to have personally killed
criminal suspects during his term as mayor of Davao.[30][31] Extrajudicial killings allegedly
committed by the Davao Death Squad between 1998 and 2016 during Duterte's
mayoralty have also been scrutinised by human rights groups and the Office of the
Ombudsman;[32][33] the victims were mainly alleged drug users, alleged petty criminals,
and street children.[34][35] The International Criminal Court also opened a preliminary
investigation into Duterte's drug war in 2018,[36] prompting Duterte to withdraw the
Philippines from the body in response.[37] He is the only president in the Philippines not
to declare his assets and liabilities.[38]

Education and early law career

Duterte went to Laboon Elementary School in Maasin, for a year.[43] He spent his
remaining elementary days at Santa Ana Elementary School in Davao City, where he
graduated in 1956. He finished his secondary education in the High School Department
of the then-Holy Cross College of Digos (now Cor Jesu College) in today's city of Digos in
the now-defunct Davao province, after being expelled twice from previous schools,
including one in the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) High School due to misconduct.
[46] He graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at
the Lyceum of the Philippines in Manila. He obtained a law degree from San Beda
College of Law in 1972. In the same year, he passed the bar exam. Duterte eventually
became a Special Counsel at the City Prosecution Office in Davao City from 1977 to
1979, Fourth Assistant City Prosecutor from 1979 to 1981, Third Assistant City
Prosecutor from 1981 to 1983, and Second Assistant City Prosecutor from 1983 to 1986.
[citation needed]

Constitutional reform
Main article: Federalism and Rodrigo Duterte
Rodrigo Duterte campaigned for decentralization and a shift to a federal government
during the 2016 presidential election. In an October 2014 forum organized by Federal
Movement for a Better Philippines in Cebu City prior to joining the presidential race, the
then-mayor of Davao City called for the creation of two federal states for Moro people as
a solution to the problems besetting Mindanao.[96] Mayor Duterte said that Nur
Misuari and his Moro National Liberation Front do not see eye-to-eye with the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front which the administration of President Benigno Aquino III had
inked a peace deal with. He also said that the "template of the Bangsamoro Basic Law is
federal", but what is granted to the Bangsamoro should also be granted to other Moro
groups and other regions in the country.[97] In a dialogue with the Makati Business
Club prior to the elections, Duterte said he is open to "toning down the Constitution" to
accommodate more foreign investors to the Philippines.[98] He also said he is open to up
to 70 percent foreign ownership of businesses in the country and foreign lease of lands
up to 60 years, but will "leave it to Congress to decide".[98]

Rape comments
Further information: Rodrigo Duterte 2016 presidential campaign § Rape of an
Australian missionary
At a campaign rally on April 12, 2016, Duterte told supporters that, as mayor, he thought
he "should have been first" to rape Jacqueline Hamill, an Australian missionary who
was gang-raped and killed during the 1989 Davao hostage crisis. He recalled examining
her corpse and saying that he "should have gone first".[99]
After being condemned for his comments, Duterte apologized for the incident and
claimed the comment was a "bad remark" and that he regretted his "gutter language," but
"would not apologize for being misinterpreted." He said that the comment was not a
"joke," as was reported by some media outlets and that he made it out of "utter anger"
when recalling the events.[100]After the United States' and Australia's ambassadors to the
Philippines criticized him for the comments, Duterte threatened to sever diplomatic ties
with the countries if elected.[95]
His daughter Sara Duterte subsequently announced on social media that she was a rape
victim, but would still vote for her father. He said that he doubted her story, and called her
a "drama queen".[101]
 2016 Philippine electoral vote results

Human rights
In a campaign speech on April 27, 2016 where he spoke to business leaders, he said his
presidency would be "a bloody one", but that he would issue "a thousand pardons a day"
to police and soldiers accused of human rights abuses, and would also issue a
presidential pardon to himself for mass murder at the end of his six-year term.[95]
Election to the presidency
On May 30, 2016, the 16th Congress of the Philippines proclaimed Duterte as
the President-elect of the Philippines after he topped the official count by the Congress of
the Philippines for the 2016 presidential election with 16,601,997 votes, 6.6 million more
than his closest rival, Mar Roxas.[102][103][104] Camarines Sur representative Leni
Robredo on the other hand, was proclaimed as the Vice President-elect of the
Philippines with 14,418,817 votes, narrowly defeating Senator Bongbong Marcos by
263,473 votes.[105]

Presidency
Main article: Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte
See also: Presidential transition of Rodrigo Duterte and Inauguration of Rodrigo Duterte
 President-elect Duterte (left) and outgoing President Benigno Aquino III at Malacañang Palace on
inauguration day, June 30, 2016

The Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte began at noon on June 30, 2016, when he became
the sixteenth president of the Philippines, succeeding Benigno Aquino III. At the age of
71, Duterte became the oldest person ever elected to the presidency. Duterte is also the
first local chief executive to get elected straight to the Office of the President, the
second Cebuano to become president (after Sergio Osmeña), the third Cebuano-
speaking president (after Osmeña and Carlos P. Garcia), the
first Visayan from Mindanao and the fourth Visayan overall (after Osmeña, Manuel
Roxas and Garcia).[106]
While adjusting to working and residing at the Malacañang Palace, Duterte divides his
workweek between Manila and Davao City by spending three days in each city, utilizing
the Malacañang of the South while in Davao.[107]
A Pulse Asia survey conducted from July 2–8 showed that Duterte had a trust rating of
91%, the highest of the six presidents since the Marcos dictatorship (the previous highest
was Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III with 87%).[108] One year after taking office
his trust rating was 81%.[109] Shortly after his inauguration on June 30, Duterte held his
first Cabinet meeting to lay out their first agenda, which included the country's disaster
risk reduction management, decongesting the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in
Manila, the country's main gateway, and expressed his ideas and concerns regarding
the territorial disputes in the South China Sea prior to the announcement of the verdict of
the Philippines' arbitration case against China over the issue,[110] which the Philippines
later won.[111] Four days later, on July 4, Duterte issued his first executive order entitled
"Reengineering the Office of the President Towards Greater Responsiveness to the
Attainment of Development Goals", allowing his Cabinet Secretary, Leoncio Evasco, Jr.,
to supervise over several agencies that focus on poverty reduction.[112] On July 23,
Duterte signed Executive Order No. 2 also known as the Freedom of Information Order.
[113]

On August 1, 2016, Duterte launched a 24-hour complaint office accessible to the public
through a nationwide complaint hotline, 8888, while also changing the
country's emergency telephone number from 1-1-7 to 9-1-1, which was first instituted in
Davao City.[114]
 Duterte takes his oath of office as the 16th president of the Philippines on June 30, 2016.

Following the September 2 bombing in Davao City that killed 14 people in the city's

central business district, on September 3 Duterte declared a "state of lawlessness", and
on the following day issued Proclamation No. 55 to officially declare a "state of national
emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao".[115] The Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were ordered to "suppress all
forms of lawless violence in Mindanao" and to "prevent lawless violence from spreading
and escalating elsewhere". Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said that the
declaration "[did] not specify the imposition of curfews" and would remain in force
indefinitely. He explained: "The recent incidents, the escape of terrorists from prisons, the
beheadings, then eventually what happened in Davao. That was the basis."[116]
In December 2016, Duterte was ranked 70th on Forbes list of The World's Most Powerful
People.[117][118] On December 7, Duterte signed Executive Order No. 10 creating a
consultative committee to review the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines.[119] Duterte
signed Executive Order 26 imposing a smoking ban in public places on May 16, 2017.
[120] In the same month, the Duterte administration began to implement the Anti-
Distracted Driving Act.[121] During his presidential campaign and transition, Duterte called
for the reimposition of capital punishment in the country to execute criminals involved in
"heinous" crimes, such as illegal drug trade, insisting on hanging.[122]
Domestic policy
Economic policy
Further information: DuterteNomics
Duterte's socioeconomic policies, referred to as DuterteNomics, include tax reform,
infrastructure development, social protection programs, and other policies to promote
economic growth and human development in the country.[123][124] Finance
Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has said that the government required what he describes
as an "audacious" economic strategy in order for the Philippines to "catch up with its
more vibrant neighbors" by 2022 and help it achieve high-income economy status within
a generation. The term DuterteNomics was coined to describe the economic policy of the
Duterte administration.
Infrastructure development
Part of Duterte's socioeconomic policy is the Build! Build! Build! Infrastructure Plan which
according to the administration will usher in the "Golden Age of Infrastructure". The goals
of the program are to reduce poverty, encourage economic growth and reduce
congestion in Metro Manila.[125]
In November 2019, the government revised its list of flagship infrastructure projects
under Duterte's "Build, Build, Build" program, expanding it to 100.[126][127] It was revised
again in August 2020, bringing the total number of projects to 104, expanding its scope
included health, information and communications technology, as well as water
infrastructure projects to support the country's economic growth and recovery from the
effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of September 11, 2020, 24 projects are still in the
approval & planning stages, while 80 were under implementation.[128] Some major
projects include[127] the Subic-Clark Railway,[129] the North–South Commuter
Railway from New Clark City to Calamba, Laguna,[129] the Metro Manila Subway, the
expansion of Clark International Airport[129] the Mindanao Railway (Tagum-Davao-Digos
Segment),[130] and the Luzon Spine Expressway Network[131][132]
As of November 2019, since Duterte assumed position in June 2016, a total of 9,845
kilometres (6,117 mi) of roads, 2,709 bridges, 4,536 flood control projects, 82 evacuation
centers, and 71,803 classrooms under the "Build, Build, Build" program were completed.
[133] In the same month (November 2019), the government revised its list of flagship
infrastructure projects under Duterte's "Build, Build, Build" program, expanding it to 100.
[126][127]

Duterte welcomes Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad following his release from Abu Sayyaf captivity.

War on drugs
See also: Philippine Drug War
Following his inauguration, Duterte started a nationwide anti-drug campaign, urging the
Filipinos, including the New People's Army to join the fight against illegal drugs.
[134] According to former Philippine National Police Chief and future senator Ronald dela
Rosa, the policy is aimed at "the neutralization of illegal drug personalities nationwide".
[135] Estimates of the death toll vary. Officially, 5,100 drug personalities have been killed
as of January 2019.[136] Some news organizations and human rights groups claim the
death toll is over 12,000.[137][138] or over 20,000.[139]
Mindanao insurgency
Further information: Bangsamoro peace process and Moro conflict
Duterte has said that Moro dignity is what the MILF and MNLF are struggling for, and that
they are not terrorists. He acknowledged that the Moros were subjected to wrongdoing,
historical and in territory.[140]
Duterte was endorsed in the election by Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader
Nur Misuari[141] due to his background in Mindanao.[142] Jesus Dureza was his second
choice.[143] Other Muslims also supported Duterte and denounced Roxas, the Aquino-
supported pick.[144]
On November 6, 2016, Duterte signed an executive order to expand the Bangsamoro
Transition Commission to 21 members from 15, in which 11 will be decided by the MILF
and 10 will be nominated by the government. The commission was formed in December
2013 and is tasked to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law in accordance with
the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro.[145]
Duterte signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law on July 26, 2018,[146][147] which abolished
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and provided for the basic structure of
government for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, following the agreements set forth
in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro peace agreement signed between
the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2014.[148]

International trips made by Duterte during his presidency

Foreign policy
See also: List of international presidential trips made by Rodrigo Duterte
The Duterte administration has vowed to pursue what it describes as an "independent
foreign policy" that would reject any meddling by foreign governments, reiterating Article
II, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution which states: "The State shall pursue an
independent foreign policy. In its relations with other states the paramount consideration
shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-
determination." In September 2016, Duterte said: "We will observe and must insist on the
time-honored principle of sovereignty, sovereign equality, non-interference and the
commitment of peaceful settlements of dispute that will serve our people and protect the
interests of our country."[149]
Duterte made his first international trips as president
to Vientiane, Laos and Jakarta, Indonesia on September 5–9, 2016.[150]
On his first trip to China in October 2016, the Filipino press reported Duterte as saying: "I
have separated from them (the Americans) so I will be dependent on you for a long time
but don't worry we will also help."[151]
Criticisms
See also: Protests against Rodrigo Duterte
President Duterte and his administration have been criticized for numerous reasons.
These include his anti-drug campaign, foreign policies, human rights record, and
extrajudicial killings. Duterte has also been criticized for his political views, controversial
comments, and others.[152][153]
Despite the criticisms on his administration, Duterte has relatively high trust and approval
ratings. In the first half of his six-year term with a record net satisfaction rating of 68%.
[154] Duterte's approval rating was at 79% in April 2019[155] and 87% on a December
2019 survey conducted by Pulse Asia.[156] Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a Pulse Asia
September 2020 "Ulat ng Bayan Survey" ("Report to the Nation Survey"), showed that
84% of Filipinos approve of the government's work to control the spread of the
coronavirus disease and that 92% of survey respondents said that Duterte has "done
well" in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.[157][158]
Anti-drug campaign
Duterte's anti-drug campaign has been criticized both locally and internationally.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, an opponent of Duterte, said that the drug war was a political
strategy intended to persuade people that "suddenly the historically most important issue
of poverty was no longer the most important."[159]
Various international publications and media companies had claimed that Duterte's "War
on Drugs" was a war against the poor due to the abject poverty of those arrested or
killed.[160][161] On June 19, 2018, 38 United Nations member states released a collective
statement through the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), calling on the
Philippines and President Duterte to stop the killings in the country and probe abuses
caused by the drug war.[162][163][164]
Duterte believes that the number of deaths are a measure of his success in his war
against drugs,[165][166][167] and despite constant criticism of his war on drugs, Duterte had
staunchly defended his administration's efforts at getting rid of "filth" from the streets.[168]
[169] A large number of Filipinos support Duterte's war on drugs, with a 2019 SWS survey
showing 82% of 1,200 interviewed Filipinos were "overwhelmingly satisfied" due to "the
perception of less drugs and crime in the country".[170][171] On August 18, 2017, Duterte
admitted his mistake in trying to end drugs in six months, and it would take him his entire
term to end it.
Human rights concerns
Human Rights Watch (HRW) called the first year of Duterte in office a human rights
calamity. HRW estimates that there has been 7,000 deaths from the day Duterte first
took office to January 2017.[172] The Duterte administration suspended the drugs war in
February 2017 in an effort to cleanse the police ranks of supposed corruption, also
halting the disclosure of figures on deaths related to drug arrests and raids.[173] In March
2017, HRW released a special investigation and report on the state of police related
shooting, titled "License To Kill".[174] The New York Times had also released a video
documentary "When A President Says I'll Kill You", which depicts Duterte's war on drugs
through a local photographer's eyes.[175] On August 17, 2017, HRW called Duterte a
threat to the human rights community after he made threats against human rights
activists.[176]
In January 2020, the International Criminal Court confirmed that an investigation into
Duterte's involvement with the death squads was ongoing, despite the Philippines having
withdrawn from the ICC two years prior, because it continued to have jurisdiction over
crimes committed when the country was still a member. Duterte had withdrawn the
country just one month after the opening of the investigation.[37]
COVID-19 pandemic
Main article: Philippine government response to the COVID-19 pandemic § 
Controversies and criticisms
Leftist groups and other organizations have criticized the government's handling of the
COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the first case
of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Philippines was confirmed on January 30, 2020.[177] This
triggered outrage on local social media platforms.[178] Other criticisms include Duterte's
remarks of ordering to "shoot" persons who violate quarantine protocols[179][180] and the
delay of the vaccines to arrive in the Philippines were also condemned.[181]
In May 2021, Duterte was criticized for publicly taking the BBIBP-CorV vaccine
from Sinopharm before it was approved for use by the Philippine Food and Drug
Administration, when the general population had access only to a limited supply
of Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and lower
efficacy CoronaVac vaccines from Sinovac.[182][183][184]
International policy
Militant groups decry the ties between President Duterte and China over the Chinese
occupation of contested waters and the reported harassment of the fishermen amidst
the territorial disputes in the South China Sea.[185][186] Also, while the United States is
one of the countries critical to Philippine drug war campaign,[187][188][189] most of the
militant groups – particularly the left-wing groups – also criticize Philippine-US relations
due to the United States' "imperialism"[190] and neoliberal policies.[191]
Tax reform
Duterte's tax reform program has garnered both support and criticism. Critics have
argued that the administration's tax policy would burden the poor.[192] The
implementation of the TRAIN Law triggered protests from various left-wing groups. On
January 15, protesters gathered at various public market sites, calling for the revocation
of TRAIN.[193] However, proponents of the program cite its appeal to foreign investors
and economic benefits as the main reasons behind tax reform.
Controversial remarks
Duterte's records on human rights and his long history of comments is considered to be
offensive, provocative, threatening, etc. have received sharp international criticism. He
has been accused by his critics in the media of having a "dirty mouth".[194] He had,
however, promised to behave in a "prim and proper" manner on the national and
international stage once he was to be inaugurated as president, to the point that, "almost,
I would become holy."[195]
Throughout his presidency, Duterte has made controversial comments about rape,[196]
[197][198] human rights, his views on media killings,[199] and has used slurs;[200][201] he has
also made controversial statements to international leaders and institutions.[202][203] He
has also repeatedly criticized the Catholic Church.[204][205][206][207]
Cabinet
Main article: Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte § Personnel
2022 Philippine presidential election
In an earlier June 8 interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on SMNI News Channel,
Duterte stated that he "sees nobody deserving" to replace him as next Philippine
President, but that he would either remain neutral or endorse a candidate.[208] In June
2021, Duterte stated he may run in the 2022 Philippine presidential election as Vice
President.[209] In August 2021, he announced his candidacy for the vice presidency.
[210] In October 2021, he withdrew his candidacy and announced his retirement from
politics, with Bong Go replacing him as the vice presidential candidate.[211]