Filipino leader who may out-Trump, Trump

In the world of politics there are many colourful and controversial characters.

The US Presidential race is being dominated by one of the most famous. But in the Philippines there’s a new leader who could just out-Trump, Trump.

Rodrigo ‘Rody' Duterte has been the Mayor of Davao City in the southern Philippines for over twenty years, on June the 30th he will take up the national office of President. He won last month’s election by a landslide having campaigned on pledge to rid the country of crime and corruption within his first six months in office. 

But this is a man who takes being tough on crime to a different level. Here’s a quote from his election campaign:

“If they (criminals) are there in your neighbourhood, feel free to call us, the police or do it yourself if you have the gun. You have my support. If he fights and fights to the death, you can kill him. I will give you a medal.”

This was just one of many controversial statements about how to deal with drug lords and criminals which appears to have propelled the 71-year-old to the presidency.

His friend of 30 years, Leo Villareal, told me he’s been like this from the beginning. Straight talking, cursing and determined to take any steps required to clean up Davao which was once the murder capital of the Philippines. 

On our visit to the City we were shown the measures put in place by the Mayor to cut crime and make the streets safe again. A network of CCTV cameras has been installed, there’s now a 911 service, one of the first in Asia and there are extra police patrols, particularly at night. Duterte’s clean-up has also extended to a ban on smoking, even in the street and public parks, and a late night curfew on drinking and karaoke. 

While there seems little doubt that the Mayor has cleaned up the city, questions have been raised about how exactly he has gone about it. Human Rights Watch claim there is a Davao Death Squad tasked with killing criminals, it’s thought hundreds have been assassinated. Mayor Duterte has been quoted both admitting to the existence of a death squad and flatly denying there is such a squad operating in Davao. 

Duterte himself has openly admitted to killing three criminals and has consistently appeared to endorse extrajudicial killing. During his presidential campaign he pledged to bring back hanging. 

“Kidnapping with ransom plus killing the victim will be death penalty. Robbery with homicide with rape, double the hanging. You will be hanged first, then there will be a ceremony for the second time.”

It’s this kind of language that has drawn criticism from, among others, the head of the UN. Ban Ki Moon has said he is "extremely disturbed’’ by the remarks of Duterte and described the endorsement of extrajudicial killings as ‘’illegal and a breach of fundamental rights and freedoms.”

To most people of Davao however, Duterte is a hero. I struggled to find anyone who had a bad word to say about him and his policy of killing criminals has widespread support. You only have to look at the election result to conclude that. He won 96% of the vote in Davao. 

The controversy doesn’t just stop at his approach to law and order. Duterte has joked about rape, cursed the Pope and threatened corrupt journalists with assassination. At a press conference following his election victory he said: “Journalists are not exempt from assassination if you are a son of a bitch.” This from the new leader of a country where 175 journalists have been killed in the last 30 years. 

It has been suggested Duterte is another example of strongman syndrome - the rise of tough talking politicians who tap into the disaffection of voters with previous governments and the establishment. One political analyst we spoke to in Davao believes it’s more than a protest vote:

“It’s not only a grievance against previous administrations but some would like say that it’s a grievance against democracy. That those states that democratised in the 1990s, 1980s are now disappointed because they have not fully democratised themselves, they cannot feel the fruits of democracy.”  said Ramon Beleno III from Ateno University. 

The Punisher, the Death Squad Mayor and Duterte Harry are just some of the nicknames Rodrigo Duterte has gained during his two decades as Mayor of Davao. He has been labelled a model crime fighter and a mass murderer. This week he gains the title of President and enters the realm of world leaders. 

On Assignment will be broadcast on ITV tonight at 10.40pm.