For his ‘silent supporters’, Philippines President Duterte is the man who can do no wrong
- Polls show more than 70 per cent of Filipinos support the controversial firebrand leader, but many won’t express their views publicly
- Despite international condemnation, Duterte’s lethal war on drugs has struck a cord with many Filipinos, who were once too afraid to walk the streets at night
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been called a lot of things: a maverick; a mischief-maker; the architect of a murderous war on drugs that has left almost 5,000 dead.
He has been described on more than one occasion as “the Trump of the East” for his brash style, impulsiveness and frequently offensive speeches.
Yet while some supporters reject this comparison, it’s certainly true in part. In much the same way that the US president has his untold legions of “shy Trumpers” – backers too embarrassed to admit they gave the former reality television star their vote – Duterte has his own band of secret admirers, happy to see a strongman’s hand back on the country’s tiller once again.
Yet in spite of this, or perhaps because of it, Duterte still enjoys high approval ratings. A survey of 1,800 voting-age Filipinos conducted by Pulse Asia in September found 75 per cent supported his leadership style, while 72 per cent said they trusted him.