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Rodrigo 'Rody' Roa Duterte was the 16th President of the Philippines.
The former lawyer and mayor of Davao built a reputation on fighting crime and corruption. He had a zero-tolerance policy against drug traffickers, organised crime and vowed to re-introduce the death penalty.
The political dynasty and Washington go way back and the breach of an undisclosed deal with Beijing explains a lot about the Spratlys stand-off.
Many countries ignore rulings they do not like, but only the US punishes others for alleged breaches of treaties to which it is not even a party.
- Claims that the alleged deal was already in place before Duterte’s term are meant to shift the blame to former leader Benigno Aquino III, observers say
- Beijing could also insist such a deal has always existed and the Philippines violated it, thereby justifying its actions in the South China Sea, they add
Critics say the Philippine president’s new rights ‘super body’ is superfluous – and an attempt to ‘deodorise his administration’s odious human rights record’.
A civil society group is urging Marcos Jnr to start a social media regulatory board but analysts fear the move could be targeted at silencing critics.
Alice Leal Guo, mayor of small town Bamban, was unable to provide details about her early life and background during a senate hearing.
His press secretary insists Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s stance on allowing his predecessor’s arrest hasn’t changed. But a new justice department legal briefing suggests otherwise.
Philippine authorities have defended Vice-Admiral Alberto Carlos but critics continue to doubt him in light of his 2008 attendance at China’s Naval Command College.
Vice-Admiral Alberto Carlos has no mandate to strike a deal with China, who may have been attempting to shift the blame to Manila, analysts say.
The Chinese embassy in Manila had said China and the Philippines earlier this year agreed on a ‘new model’ for the Second Thomas Shoal.
Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, a close Duterte ally, has initiated a hearing in which a former anti-narcotics agent claimed Marcos Jnr was a drug abuser.
Most analysts believe Trump would maintain the alliance to counter Beijing, but some said major shifts including a potential troop pull-out were possible
Observers speculate the investigation is politically motivated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s ongoing feud with his predecessor.
There’s more to the pair’s recent showdown than just a cutting verbal exchange, analysts say. And it’s not just next year’s midterm polls at stake.
Their manifesto criticises President Marcos Jnr’s South China Sea stance, claims China’s aggressive actions justified by his provocations
Manuel Mamba has been tossed out of office for illegally using public funds just as joint military exercises involving Manila and Washington take place in his province.
Marcos Jnr’s pro-US stance and measures to ‘elevate’ the Philippines have made him a ‘pivotal player’ on South China Sea issues among world leaders.
Marcos Jnr said his wife’s inexperience in politics led to her outburst against Vice-President Sara Duterte
Almost 70 per cent of Filipino respondents in a survey said Congress should focus immediately on curbing rising commodity prices.
Duterte said her personal feelings were not related to her position as a government official after Marcos Jnr’s wife accused the vice-president of ‘hurting’ her.
China rejects Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s claims that its ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte was a ‘secret’ and urges Manila to stick to its commitments on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
![First lady Louise Araneta-Marcos chats during the presidential proclamation at the House of Representatives. In an interview, the first lady says she was “always kind to [the vice-president]” but the vice-president was “now a bad shot with me”. Photo: AFP](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/540x360/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/04/18/f15135bf-9c58-48bf-92d0-f130f14fb9d0_d23f9593.jpg?itok=gBlu-qhv&v=1713444001)
The first lady’s comments come after the president on Monday said his relationship with his vice-president was ‘complicated’ and ‘hasn’t really changed’.
Firebrand ex-leader Rodrigo Duterte says his successor is a ‘crybaby’, with the two trading jibes over drug-use accusations and their opposing South China Sea stances. Will they ever bury the hatchet? ‘It’s complicated’.
Several prominent Filipinos say the deal has effectively handed control of the Second Thomas Shoal to China.
ICC launched an inquiry into Duterte’s drug crackdown in September 2021, but suspended it two months later when Manila said it was re-examining cases of drug operations.
Joint statement by the three leaders makes it clear the Washington summit was aimed at opposing China’s recent maritime activities.
The ICC has called for translators in Tagalog and Cebuano, languages involved in the crimes against humanity trial against the ex-Philippine leader.
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said Chinese President Xi Jinping strongly warned him against drilling for oil in the disputed waters.
Chinese foreign ministry says Beijing consistently committed to dialogue and consultation with Manila over the shoal.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has expressed outrage over a “secret agreement” on the South China Sea that threatens the Philippines’ sovereignty.
