Revealed: the secret meaning behind the tiny tattoo on Philippine president Duterte’s hand
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte sports a tattoo of a soldiers’ group that once staged coups to reinstate dictator Ferdinand Marcos
Verbally, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he is a “Leftist” and a “Socialist”.
Etched, however, on his right hand is a small tattoo marking him out as a ranking member of Guardians Brotherhood, a soldiers’ group that once tried to topple then-president Corazon Aquino because she had leftists in her cabinet and to reinstate the ousted strongman Ferdinand Marcos.
Duterte’s presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza confirmed to South China Morning Post that the tattoo on Duterte’s right hand just below the fold of the thumb and index finger stands for the “Magic Group” of the Guardians Brotherhood. He is the first ever Philippine head of state to sport a tattoo.
“It’s a secret cult,” Dureza jokingly said.
Turning serious, Dureza - a former schoolmate of Duterte - said he too was a member of the same Magic Group and he showed the Post the same tattoo.