WHEN Rodrigo Duterte first announced his presidential candidacy in November, he seemed a long shot. He had been the controversial mayor of Davao, the biggest city in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, for over 20 years. Just five months before he entered the presidential race Human Rights Watch linked him to vigilante killings of suspected criminals. Voters had never elected a president from Mindanao, or one who had never previously held national office. But on the evening of May 9th, with three-fifths of all votes counted, Mr Duterte held a 17-point lead over his closest challenger. A Duterte presidency looks on the cards, and it will come as quite a shock.
Politics in the Philippines has always revolved around personality more than policy. It is something that Mar Roxas, running a distant second to Mr Duterte, never quite grasped. A worthy scion of a political family (his grandfather had been president) and a former member of the cabinet of the outgoing president, Benigno Aquino, Mr Roxas spent the campaign touting the Philippines’ undoubted success in generating economic growth. Under Mr Aquino, the country was South-East Asia’s...Continue reading
from Asia http://ift.tt/278bMuS
Share this
Related Posts
High-ranking officials claim immunity over poisonous waterThe cases will run and run
Source: United States https://ift.tt/2mM4KLD
- Savings update: Britons could secure 5% interest rate before Christmas - are you eligible?
THE LAST chance for Britons to stay above inflation has arrived just before Christmas, but who is eligible for the re
- Carer’s Allowance to be replaced by 2026: Will you still be eligible?
THE CARER'S Allowance is due to be replaced by May 2026 to help more carers reach the support they need, but who will
- Republicans inch towards action on global warmingThe key is to avoid the language of guilt and repentance for climate change
Source: United States https://ift.tt/2n42M
EmoticonEmoticon