Trump of the East: Meet Rodrigo Duterte (& Mini Round-Up of Election Results From The Philippines)

[car_kids]

Filipinos love an action man, not just in the movies but in politics too. And you can't get more of an action man than politician Rodrigo Duterte

Comments

[tropicopenguin]

i've been tweeting about this all day. i'm so scared for our country. i can't believe we're about to repeat history like this, and so willingly, too. it's crazy that i can look at his statements and tell you exactly which evil dictator in history he sounds like.

hoping that leni robredo keeps her lead on marcos so she can temper him somewhat. if marcos wins i won't be able to even. i can't believe we might be going from electing the son of two of the greatest heroes of our nation to the son of the dictator who ruined our country.

[car_kids]

Yeah, Leni is a beacon of hope for this election. I can't believe they let this guy be president and more than that his support has a strong hold with the public. I'm hoping he does clean up his act, like he promises, but I really doubt it. I don't want another police state or dictatorship ruining Philippines.

[tropicopenguin]

Agreed.

I also feel really bad because I think Noynoy is such an amazing man and I'm afraid everything he's achieved will get undone. And Mar really is a dedicated public servant. Hopefully things are better than I think it will be but its really scary. Literally that curfew shit is straight out of the last Harry Potter book, and Duterte's attitude re: executions is scarily reminiscent of Fidel Castro

[car_kids]

Yeah, ia. Pnoy was a good President. Economy is on the upswing and it has been relatively peaceful as far as I recall. But I think people (Filipinos and even Americans) think the President is the be all and ell in the government and that puts the blame all on him. It doesn't help that politicians aren't held accountable for any corruption. I feel like he was like Obama, campaigned as a progressive but was more moderate as President.

Funny anecdote but I actually met Pnoy when I went back home during the holiays back in 2012/2013. He was leaving the Presidential Palace at Baguio, just minutes after we arrived at the place. I got one of his armbands with me.

[sentinelsoul]

I saw John Oliver's bit on this guy. I can't even fathom it. 'Trump of the East' doesn't even begin to cover it, this guy is so much worse, and the fact that he's the forecasted winner is horrifying. I'm sorry, Philippines. I hope by some miracle this ends well for you, even if this guy does ascend to the presidency.

Edited for spelling.

[tropicopenguin]

literally he sounds more Fidel Castro than Donald Trump.

The crazy thing is that he partially used Trump to fear monger among the population. A friend of mine went to a rally of his to see what it was like and he spent like ten minutes talking about how Trump might be president of the U.S. and we need to be a stronger nation because Trump is horrible or something. Crazy that Trump has had this kind of effect and it's still only primary season.

[sugartitty]

I have a former coworker who is from the Philippines who supports this guy and is always posting stuff about him on her Facebook page. She also defended Pacquiao after all his dumb shit. She seemed so rational when we worked together idgi.

[car_kids]

Honestly, I can kinda see why he appeals to people. Oligarchs have control of the government and he is seen as the outsider who will bring about change. However, once you look at his policies, you realize he's a batshit crazy politician. People also like bringing out the fact that he cleaned up his city but at what cost.