Getting to the roots of Rodrigo Duterte: biographer on Philippine president’s puzzling past
- Why does Duterte dislike the Catholic Church? How did the privileged son of a provincial oligarch develop his rough-edged gangster charm?
- Duterte Harry author on his fascination with Philippines’ authoritarian leader
A personality appraisal prepared by a psychologist during the annulment of Rodrigo Duterte’s 27-year marriage in 1998 was one of the unexpected gems uncovered as journalist Jonathan Miller researched the background of the president of the Philippines.
Speaking at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, Miller said the report described Duterte as suffering from a narcissistic personality disorder with aggressive features.
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“The psychologist referred to his gross indifference, insensitivity, manipulative behaviour, grandiose sense of self and entitlement and concluded that his personality disturbance was serious and incurable,” said Miller, Channel 4’s Asia Correspondent based in Bangkok and author of Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines.
Miller’s book, released in May this year, includes interviews with Duterte, two of his sisters, his daughter, son, old friends, members of his death squads and relatives of his victims.
“Having written this book and dug into his past and seen how he behaves now, [the personality appraisal] struck a chord,” Miller said at the event on Saturday.