Filipino’s Strongman 12-14-2016

14, December 2016                    Filipino’s Strongman

In an effort to combat drug related crime populist, President Rodrigo Duterte, has given the green light to his law enforcement agencies to engage in vigilante killings which has resulted in mind numbing slaughter. Since July 1, the police have killed more than 2,000 people suspected of criminal behavior.  Duterte responded with outrage to President Obama’s criticism of his policies calling him a ‘son of a whore’. Meanwhile, the population is living in constant fear. Death can strike anyone at any time with complete impunity protected by Deterte’s draconian promise to root out the drug problems with rewards being offered to anyone that helps. This may well give rise to bounty hunters or people settling scores. Duterte has also ignored calls by the international community, the United Nations, and the European Union to stop the killings threatening to pull the Philippines out of the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.

Mr. Duterte says he has found a sympathetic ear in President-elect Donald Trump, who gushed enthusiastically at Duterte’s crackdown. Perhaps Trump’s business interests in the Philippines have a lot to do with his support for the Filipino strongman. This does not bode well for the world where populist autocrats are on the rise contemptuous of the rule of law.