RODRIGO DUTERTE - WHO IS HE?

Abstract

This paper touches upon one of the most odious political figures of modern world-Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte who has been at his post for a year so far. The author aims to take a closer look into his personal and political qualities, figure out in which manner they influence and determine his decision-making process. The article analyses the most significant steps taken by Duterte in his presidential career in order to predict further development of his international and domestic policies alongside with the possible changes in the political layout in the Philippines. Using mostly theoretical methods of analyses and induction the author makes a number of conclusions stating that despite the image of a straight-forwarded brute, Rodrigo Duterte is a much more complex politician , who uses such an image for his own purposes. Being a cunning and wise leader, he knows the boundaries that are not to be crossed-this way even his unprecedented behaviour does not undermine his attempts to maintain balance among the most influential nations in the world. Massive critique from the outside world does not seem to matter to Duterte since in his politics he firstly relies on the support of his own people, who despite his unconventional methods see him not as a dictator, but as a rather unusual reformist ready to introduce in the Philippines some changes instead of maintaining status-quo. Such policy and determination adds to Duterte's popularity among his people on the background of the former presidents' indecisive political moves. On May 9, 2016, the Filipinos voted for their new 16-th president, a person who would lead the country for the following 6 years. The pre-election period of almost two years and the official campaign were tense and full of mutual accusations. Among other candidates Rodrigo Duterte appeared to be the last one to join the campaign and yet he won despite his reputation and all kinds of "cases" in his political career as a mayor of Davao City, the post he had held for almost 22 years with minor breaks to bypass the law that prohibits politicians to take the same post more than 3 times in a row. During the campaign, multiple times Duterte promised to establish the same regime and rules he used in Davao City in order to set "law and order" throughout the Philip-pines. He truthfully admitted that he was not going to be gentle with "criminality in general and drug lords in particular" and that his presidency can turn violent. Nevertheless, this crude rhetoric hasn't stopped the people from giving Duterte their votes. Even more