The Resurgence of Law and Order Presidency in the Philippines: War on Drugs Rhetoric and Threat to the Rule of Law

• In Event: Governing through Crime: Challenges and Implications of the Philippine Drug War

Abstract

On June 30, 2106, Rodrigo Duterte became the 16th president of the Philippines. His electoral victory capped the rise of the former public prosecutor and Davao City mayor who ran on a strong anti-crime platform. Duterte promised to replicate what he had done in Davao City where, as mayor, he aggressively went after criminals using controversial means and turned the city into one of the safest in the country. His tough on crime image, coupled by his down-to-earth demeanor, gained the support of voters who had grown weary of the perceived incompetence of national leaders. Pursuing his campaign promise, Duterte pushed his anti-crime agenda to the top of his priority and declared an all-out War on Drugs just days after assuming office. He instructed police not to hesitate in killing suspected drug criminals and even urged citizens to join in the killings. Deaths of suspected drug pushers and users reached 2,830 in the first six months of his administration. Surprisingly, public opinion surveys indicate that Duterte remains popular despite the harshness his anti-crime campaign. This paper examines the rhetoric in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs and the danger it poses on the rule of law in the Philippines.

Author

• Napoleon C. Reyes, Sonoma State University