Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte


The presidency of Rodrigo Duterte began at noontime of June 30, 2016 following his inauguration as the 16th President of the Philippines, succeeding Benigno Aquino III. His term is expected to end at noontime of June 30, 2022.
Duterte is the first president from Mindanao and the oldest person to be elected president of the Philippines. He is also the first Philippine president to have worked in the three branches of the government. Duterte was the mayor of Davao City at the time of his 2016 presidential election victory, garnering over 16 million votes or about 39% of total votes, beating his closest rival by over 6.6 million votes. Duterte's approval rating has been relatively high throughout his presidency despite criticism and international opposition to his anti-narcotics drive.
Duterte started a nationwide campaign to rid the country of crime, and corruption, and illegal drugs. The war on drugs saw about 6,600 persons linked to the illegal drug trade killed as of July 2019. Duterte campaigned to restore the death penalty in the Philippines. However, the law reinstating the death penalty stalled in the Senate in April 2017, where it did not appear to have enough votes to pass.
Duterte resumed peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines in 2016, but cancelled all negotiations in February 2017 following attacks and kidnapping of soldiers by NPA members, branding the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group. The Battle of Marawi lasted for five months from May 23 to October 17, 2017, the day after the deaths of militant leaders Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon, with Duterte declaring Marawi as "liberated from terrorist influence".
Duterte initiated the massive Build! Build! Build! Infrastructure Plan which, according to the administration, will usher in the "Golden Age of Infrastructure", reducing poverty, encouraging economic growth and reducing congestion in Metro Manila. Notable landmark laws signed during his tenure include the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act which paved the way for free college education in all state universities and colleges nationwide, and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act, which lowered personal income tax and increased consumption tax particularly excise taxes on vehicles, sugar-sweetened beverages, petroleum products, tobacco and non-essential goods.
Building on the progress of the preceding Aquino administration, the Bangsamoro Organic Law was signed into law establishing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region which has greater autonomy than the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The new autonomous region replaced the ARMM upon the ratification of the BOL in a plebiscite held in 2019.
Following the Maute Group-led occupation of Marawi, Duterte has declared martial law throughout Mindanao which was later extended for two years until 2019 in a bid to ensure order in the island.
Duterte has pursued a foreign policy described by his administration as an "independent foreign policy", pursuing greater foreign relations with China and Russia and has distanced the country from its traditional ally the United States. He has adopted a more friendly stance towards China compared to his predecessor and has set aside the previous government policy of using the Philippines v. China international arbitration ruling to assert the Philippines' claims over the South China Sea and its islands.

Transition

Duterte's presidential transition began on May 30, 2016 when the Congress of the Philippines proclaimed his candidacy the winner of the 2016 Philippine presidential election held on May 9, 2016. Duterte's transition team was in charge of preparing the new presidential residence, cabinet appointments and cordial meetings between them and the outgoing administration. At the time the transition team was organized, Duterte was leading by a significant margin at the unofficial count by the Commission on Elections and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting. Duterte met with various personalities during his transition period, notably, Eduardo V. Manalo, the executive minister of Iglesia ni Cristo religious group.
The transition lasted until the day of Duterte's inauguration on June 30, 2016.

Inauguration

The inauguration of Rodrigo Duterte as the sixteenth President of the Philippines took place on June 30, 2016 at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Malacañang Palace in Manila. The oath of office was administered by Bienvenido L. Reyes, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. It was the fourth Philippine presidential inauguration to be held in Malacañang, and the first since the Fifth Philippine Republic was started.
The inauguration of Leni Robredo as vice president commenced at 9:00a.m. PHT at the Quezon City Reception House, Robredo's official office. By her request, Robredo's oath was administered by two village chiefs, Ronaldo D. Coner, the chief of Barangay Punta Tarawal in Calabanga, Camarines Sur, described as the "smallest, farthest and poorest barangay" in Robredo's home province, Camarines Sur, and Regina Celeste San Miguel, the chief of Barangay Mariana, Quezon City where Robredo's office is located.

Personnel

Judicial appointments

Duterte appointed the following to the Supreme Court of the Philippines:

Chief Justice

  1. Teresita Leonardo-De Castro - August 28, 2018
  2. Lucas Bersamin - November 28, 2018
  3. Diosdado Peralta - October 23, 2019

    Associate Justices

  4. Samuel Martires - March 6, 2017, July 26, 2018.
  5. Noel G. Tijam - March 8, 2017
  6. Andres Reyes Jr. - July 12, 2017
  7. Alexander Gesmundo - August 14, 2017
  8. Jose C. Reyes - August 10, 2018
  9. Ramon Paul Hernando - October 10, 2018
  10. Rosmari D. Carandang - November 28, 2018
  11. Amy C. Lazaro-Javier - March 7, 2019
  12. Henri Jean Paul Inting - May 27, 2019
  13. Rodil V. Zalameda - August 5, 2019
  14. Edgardo L. de Los Santos - December 3, 2019
  15. Mario V. Lopez - December 3, 2019
  16. Samuel H. Gaerlan - January 8, 2020
  17. Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla - July 16, 2020
  18. - between September 18, 2020 and December 18, 2020

    Changes

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

NamePositionAgency/DepartmentDateReplaced by
1Ret. BGen. Eliseo M. Rio, Jr.Undersecretary for OperationsDepartment of Information and Communications TechnologyFebruary 3, 2020Ramon Jacinto
2Ret. VAdm. Narciso A. Vingson Jr. AdministratorMaritime Industry AuthorityMarch 1, 2020Ret. VAdm. Robert Empedrad

;Notes

Major activities

Speeches

National budget

First year

July

Shortly after his inauguration, Duterte held his first Cabinet meeting to lay out his plans for the Cabinet, which included the establishment of a 24-hour complaint office covering the entire country and advancing the country's disaster risk reduction management, lamenting its current status after recalling his personal encounter with the previous administration's failure to address the lack of basic needs of the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. He laid out his plan to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, the country's main gateway, by transferring the operations of domestic flights to Clark International Airport in Angeles, Pampanga and constructing a road network between Angeles and Manila while his government reviews the possibility of constructing a new airport at the Naval Station Sangley Point in Cavite. He also advised the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines not to provide him and his Cabinet officials with special priority treatment different from ordinary citizens. Duterte pointed out the healthcare in the Philippines, saying that the country could learn from the healthcare in Cuba and ordered his Health Secretary, Paulyn Ubial, to travel to Cuba. Occurring twelve days prior to the announcement of the outcome of the Philippines' arbitration case against China over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Duterte said that he and his Foreign Secretary, Perfecto Yasay, Jr., will study the implications of the ruling in order to better plan any further steps taken by the government to address the issue. Duterte also expressed his willingness to stop the online gambling industry. After the Cabinet meeting, President Duterte met with representatives from militant groups to discuss the "People’s Agenda for Change" plan.
On July 1, 2016, a day after the inauguration, President Duterte attended the change-of-command ceremonies for the new Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa and the new Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff Ricardo Visaya. During the AFP's change-of-command rites, Duterte personally and briefly met his Vice President Leni Robredo for the first time.
Robredo later paid a courtesy call on Duterte in the Malacañang Palace on July 4, 2016. Three days later, Duterte appointed Robredo to a Cabinet position. Despite opposition, Duterte announced on May 23, 2016 that he would allow the burial of Ferdinand Marcos' remains in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
President Duterte issued his first executive order on July 4, entitled "Reengineering the Office of the President Towards Greater Responsiveness to the Attainment of Development Goals". In the executive order, 12 agencies under the Office of the President who focused on anti-poverty programs will be placed under the supervision of Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr. Duterte said he will end insurgency and war conflicts in the Mindanao, before his term ends, through peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Moro National Liberation Front and other Moro groups. Duterte noted that the intervention of foreign countries, including the United States, caused the worsened war situation in the Middle East countries including Iraq and Libya.
On 12 July 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration tribunal agreed unanimously with the Philippines in the international case, Philippines v. China, which former president Benigno Aquino III initiated in January 2013. In its award, it concluded that there is no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources, hence there was "no legal basis for China to claim historic rights" over the area within the nine-dash line. The tribunal also judged that the PRC had caused "severe harm to the coral reef environment", and that it had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone by interfering with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration by, for example, restricting the traditional fishing rights of Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal. The PRC rejected the ruling, calling it "ill-founded", but they would still be committed to resolving disputes with its neighbours. On the same day, President Duterte has named Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran as the "Anti-Red Tape Czar".
The following day, Duterte met with House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., and her daughter, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, the top officials of the Asian Development Bank and Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal for a series of courtesy calls and meetings. On July 14, President Duterte attended the thanksgiving dinner organized by his fellow alumni from the San Beda College of Law at the Club Filipino, San Juan. President Duterte has offered former President Fidel V. Ramos to become the Philippines' special envoy to China on the planned bilateral talks between two countries, in connection with the ongoing South China Sea dispute.
On July 18, 2016, President Duterte, together with Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr., led the send-off ceremonies for the Philippine delegation in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang. After the send-off, Duterte met with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach for a courtesy call to discuss the possibility of the Philippines hosting next year's Miss Universe. Two days before his first State of the Nation Address, on July 23, President Duterte signed the Freedom of Information Order that covered all offices under the executive branch.
On July 25, 2016, President Duterte delivered his first State of the Nation Address.
On July 27, 2016, President Duterte met with United States Secretary of State John Kerry, the first foreign minister Duterte met with as president and the highest ranking diplomat he met with since his inauguration, to discuss cooperation between the Philippines and the United States under the Duterte administration following the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling in favor of the Philippines against China's claim over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Later that day, the first National Security Council meeting under the Duterte presidency was held. It was attended by former presidents and NSC members Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and Benigno Aquino III, together with Vice President Leni Robredo, Senate President Koko Pimentel, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, and other cabinet secretaries.

August

On August 7, 2016, President Duterte, who was at the wake of four soldiers killed in an encounter with communist rebels in Camp Panacan, Davao City, delivered a speech wherein he named local government officials, court judges and police officers who are all involved in illegal drug trade.

September

On September 2, a bomb exploded in Davao City in Mindanao. The bombing was linked to the Maute group, although Abu Sayyaf reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombing but later denied it. The incident prompted Duterte to declare a "state of lawlessness" in the country, which would remain in effect for over a year. In early September, Duterte made his first foreign trip as head of state, attending the ASEAN Summit in Laos. Before leaving for his first international summit, Duterte quickly made international headlines after slamming then-US president Barack Obama for his criticism on human rights issues brought about by the Philippines’ controversial drug war. He has apologized for these remarks.
Duterte critic Leila de Lima faced a series of investigations on the New Bilibid Prison drug trafficking scandal, with De Lima refusing to attend, calling it a “sham inquiry” and a mere ploy to discredit her. In the Senate's probe on extrajudicial killings related to the drug war, De Lima presented Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed hitman and member of the so-called Davao Death Squad. Matobato testifies that Duterte ordered the group to execute people back when he was Davao City mayor. However, this was later refuted and disproven. and it was labeled as 'hearsay' and 'lies' by Duterte.
By the end of September, Duterte lamented that he was being portrayed as a “cousin” of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, but later drew parallels between his drug war and the annihilation of 3 million Jews during the Holocaust. He later apologized for his remarks, saying "There was never an intention on my part to derogate the memory of 6 million Jews murdered by the Germans".

October to December

On October 13, the President signed an administrative order creating a presidential task force to probe media killings, which comes several months after he was criticized for remarks he made as president-elect, when he justified the killing of corrupt members of the media. On October 18, Duterte visited China to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two countries amid tensions in disputed South China Sea. During a trade and investment forum in Beijing, Duterte announced the Philippines’ separation from the United States and his decision to move closer to China, which was later clarified by Duterte and his cabinet that he was not cutting ties with the US. On October 28, Datu Saudi-Ampatuan, Maguindanao mayor Samsudin Dimaukom was killed in an alleged shootout with state operatives in Makilala, Cotabato.
On November 5, Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr, who was linked to the drug trade, was killed inside his jail cell in a reported shootout with personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. On November 8, the Supreme Court issued its verdict which paved the way for the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. On November 18, Ferdinand Marcos was buried with full military honors at the Heroes’ Cemetery, sparking national outrage, especially among those who suffered human rights abuses under the Marcos regime.
On December 4, five months after the President offered Vice President Leni Robredo a Cabinet post through a phone call, the Vice President resigned from the Cabinet. Robredo announced her resignation from her post as housing chair after she received a text message from Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco Jr, “to desist from attending all Cabinet meetings starting December 5.” On December 6, the National Bureau of Investigation said that the death of Albuera Mayor Espinosa was a "rubout" and recommended criminal charges against the 24 CIDG operatives involved, which included police superintendent Marvin Marcos. On December 7, a bill for the reimposition of the death penalty hurdled the House committee level. In response, the United Nations warned that the Philippines will violate international law if it reintroduces capital punishment.
On December 17, Duterte endorsed senator Manny Pacquiao as his possible successor when his term ends in 2022. On December 18, Duterte admitted that he was taking the addictive opioid drug Fentanyl, a powerful painkiller often prescribed for cancer pain and other chronic ailments, beyond the recommended dose because of a spinal injury he had from a previous motorcycle accident. Additionally, Duterte suffers from Buerger's disease and Barrett's esophagus, but has denied insider reports that he has throat cancer. On Christmas Eve, an explosion outside a church in Midsayap, Cotabato injured at least 13 people. Duterte linked the bombing, as well as the September blast in Davao City, to the international terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Domestic policy

Burial of Ferdinand Marcos

On November 8, the Supreme Court issued a verdict which paved the way for the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, which sparked protests. On November 18, Ferdinand Marcos was buried with full military honors at the Heroes' Cemetery. It sparked national outrage, especially among those who suffered human rights abuses under the Marcos regime. The protests was continuously held from November 18 to November 30.

Communist insurgency

In July 2016, Duterte directed his peace process advisor for the CPP–NPA–NDF rebellion, Silvestre Bello III, to lead a government panel in resuming peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People's Army, and the National Democratic Front in Oslo, Norway, expressing hope that a peace treaty between the rebellions would be reached within a year. The first talks began on August 22–26, 2016, in which the parties agreed upon "the affirmation of previously signed agreements, the reconstitution of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees which 'protects the rights of negotiators, consultants, staffers, security and other personnel involved in peace negotiations', and the accelerated progress for negotiations." In February 2017, due to recent attacks and kidnapping of soldiers by members of the NPA despite the imposed ceasefire by the government and the rebel groups, President Duterte cancelled all negotiations with the CPP–NPA–NDF and labeled them a terrorist group. He also ordered the arrest of all NDF negotiators. Military offensive against the group resumed after Duterte's cancellation of ceasefire.

Death penalty

During the 2016 election, Duterte campaigned to restore the death penalty in the Philippines. Duterte, who won the election in May 2016, supports restoration of the death penalty by hanging. It has been reported that he wants capital punishment for criminals involved in illegal drugs, gun-for-hire syndicates and those who commit "heinous crimes" such as rape, robbery or car theft where the victim is murdered. Duterte has theatrically vowed "to litter Manila Bay with the bodies of criminals". In December 2016, the bill to resume capital punishment for certain "heinous offenses" swiftly passed out of Committee in the House of Representatives; it passed the full House of Representatives in February 2017. On March 7, despite fierce criticism, especially from the Catholic Church, the House of Representatives approved on 3rd and final reading the controversial bill. However, the law reinstating the death penalty stalled in the Senate in April 2017, where it did not appear to have enough votes to pass.

Drugs

Duterte claimed that the Philippines was at risk of becoming a narco-state. Following his inauguration, Duterte started a nationwide anti-drug campaign, urging the Filipinos, including the New People's Army to join the fight against illegal drugs. On July 7, Duterte presented a chart identifying three Chinese nationals who serve as drug lords in the Philippines.
in front of the Philippine Consulate General in New York City.
In Duterte's first 100 days in office, a rough estimate of 3,600 killings were attributed to his intensified campaign against illegal drugs, which included more than 1,300 suspects killed in gunbattles with police, and about half of them killed by unknown assailants. There were more than 23,500 raids and 22,500 arrests conducted by the police on suspected drug dealers and addicts, and more than 1.6 million houses of drug suspects visited by police to invite them to surrender and disengage from the drug trade. Approximately 732,000 addicts and dealers have surrendered to authorities, overwhelming the administration and prompting them to build more rehabilitation centers. The growing number of extrajudicial executions since the campaign started garnered worldwide attention and prompted the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, human rights watchdogs, and opposition groups to probe into the killings which were believed to be state-sanctioned. The Duterte administration demanded critics to provide evidence.
On October 10, 2017, amid public outrage over alleged police abuse in the continuing crackdown, Duterte barred the Philippine National Police from joining anti-drug raids and designated the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as the "sole agency" in charge of the war on drugs. The PNP was allowed back to join the campaign on December 5, 2017, with the PDEA still being the lead agency.
The war on drugs remains overwhelmingly popular among majority of Filipinos, with a poll by the Social Weather Stations in September 2019 returning a rating of "excellent" for Duterte's three-year campaign, with 82% satisfied due to a perception of less drugs and crime in the country.

Environment

Mining

On February 2, 2017, the mining sector was shaken up after environment secretary and staunch environmentalist Gina Lopez announced the closure of 23 mining operations and the suspension of five others. Duterte, who has expressed support for Lopez, said that there was nothing he could do about the closures. On May 3, Lopez's appointment as Environment Secretary was rejected by the Commission on Appointments in a vote of 8–16 on May 3, 2017, amid issues over her order to close and suspend mining operations. In July 2018, Duterte floated a "conspiracy" behind Congress' decision in May 2017 to reject Lopez's appointment as environment secretary. He also reiterated that he will ban open-pit mining.

Boracay clean-up

On April 4, Duterte announced that the government shall 'close down' all operations within the island of Boracay, the country's number one tourism destination, due to 'environmental concerns'. On April 10, Duterte admitted that the government has 'no master plan' in how to clean-up Boracay, which he called a 'cesspool'. On April 24, more than 600 military personnel were deployed by Duterte in Boracay, confusing the natives on the government's initial environmental wordings. On April 26, Boracay's 6-month closure began, and entire island was officially closed to the public.
Boracay was officially reopened to the public on October 26, 2019 following a six-month extensive clean-up. A limit for visitors to the island had been set by the government, where only 6,000 would be allowed on any given day, as studies have shown Boracay's capacity to be only at 6,000.

Federalism

Duterte advocates federalism as a better system of governance for the Philippines. He argues that regions outside Metro Manila receive unfairly small budgets from the Internal Revenue Allotment. For example, of the Davao sends monthly to Metro Manila, only 2 or 3 billion ever returns. He also highlights that money remitted to national government is misused by corrupt politicians in the Philippine Congress. However, Duterte said to Muslim leaders in July 2016 that if the majority of Filipinos are against the proposal of federalism, he will push for the Bangsamoro Basic Law, in which only Bangsamoro would become autonomous. He would also revise the law in such a way that the Moro National Liberation Front would receive the same deal as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Infrastructure

Part of Duterte's socioeconomic policy is the Build! Build! Build! Infrastructure Plan which according to the administration will usher in the "Golden Age of Infrastructure". The goals of the program are to reduce poverty, encourage economic growth and reduce congestion in Metro Manila.
sports complex
Some major projects include:
As of November 2019, since Duterte assumed position in June 2016, a total of of roads, 2,709 bridges, 4,536 flood control projects, 82 evacuation centers, and 71,803 classrooms under the “Build, Build, Build” program were completed. In the same month, the government revised its list of flagship infrastructure projects under Duterte's "Build, Build, Build" program, expanding it to 100.

Islamic insurgency in Mindanao

Duterte has said that Moro dignity is what the MILF and MNLF are struggling for, and that they are not terrorists. He acknowledged that the Moros were subjected to wrongdoing, historical and in territory.
Duterte was endorsed in the election by Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari due to his background in Mindanao. Jesus Dureza was his second choice. Other Muslims also supported Duterte and denounced Roxas, the Aquino-supported pick.
During the Mindanao Hariraya Eid al-Fitr 2016 convention in Davao City on July 8, 2016, Duterte vowed to address the Moro conflict and bring peace in Mindanao, assuring the Filipino Muslim community that "something will change" before the end of his term. He said that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front both support his proposal for federalism in the Philippines, which he says is the only solution to the Bangsamoro peace process. Duterte said that if the proposal for the country's shift to federalism fails or is not desired by the Filipino people, he will vow to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which would establish the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. He also added that the Basic Law should benefit both MILF and MNLF, saying he is willing to negotiate with both secessionists to initiate a "reconfiguration" of territory.
A crowd of Muslims were attending the speech by Duterte where he accused America of bringing terrorism to themselves, saying that terrorism is not the result of the Middle East. He railed against the actions undertaken in the Middle East by the USA. Duterte blamed the war on Mindanao on colonialist Christianity being brought to the Philippines in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan, saying there was peace before that and that they were made to fight their "Malay brothers" by Christians.
, November 3, 2016
The Bud Dajo Massacre inflicted upon the Moros was mentioned by President Duterte to criticize the United States and its President Barack Obama. The massacre was cited a second time by Duterte in criticizing America while calling for the exit of American troops.
On November 6, 2016, Duterte signed an executive order to expand the Bangsamoro Transition Commission to 21 members from 15, in which 11 will be decided by the MILF and 10 will be nominated by the government. The commission was formed in December 2013 and is tasked to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law in accordance with the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro
Duterte signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law on July 26, 2018, which abolished the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and provided for the basic structure of government for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, following the agreements set forth in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro peace agreement signed between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2014.

Labor

During his campaign for the 2016 presidential election, one of Rodrigo Duterte's promises was the phasing out of contractualization and improvement to labor in the Philippines. Upon his election, he appointed Silvestre Bello III as Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment, who considers making all companies put at least 80% of all employees under contract as per the president's orders. By the end of 2016, around 36000 workers have been regularized. Going into 2017, Duterte and Bello aimed for a new permanent policy that would end labor-only contractualization by the end of February, but Bello wound up not signing it. Instead he decided first for dialogue between the president and labor groups in order to get feedback. Eventually President Duterte met with the labor groups as Bello drafts a new Department Order that would stop labor contractualization. However, by March 16 Bello signs Department Order 174 which sets stricter guidelines on contractualization but doesn't immediately illegalize it. Duterte however continued his stand against contractualization, promising to sign an Executive Order against it. However, the Marawi crisis ends up postponing the signing. As of 2018, no Executive Order has been signed by President Duterte regarding the complete abolishment of contractualization. A rally was organized by labor groups on March 15, 2018 in protest against the president's delay of the EO. Eventually on May 1, Duterte signed an EO that would put an end to contractualization, although labor groups criticized the president for his actions since the one signed was not the draft agreed upon with them.

Land reform

Law and order

On June 13, 2018, the Philippine National Police launched "Oplan RODY" or "Rid the Streets of Drunkards and Youths". The campaign was meant to enforce city and municipal ordinances, such as those against drinking and gambling in the streets and walking around shirtless, and those below 18 years old who are violating the curfew. On June 21, records showed that 7,291 youth in Metro Manila were arrested by the police just 9 days after the "Oplan RODY" campaign was launched. On June 22, Duterte denied that he ordered the arrests of tambays. Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde stressed that those arrested had violated local ordinances, which included smoking in public, being half-naked, and karaoke singing past 10 p.m.
The anti-loitering campaign met public backlash from various militant groups, the religious sector and human rights activists. On June 27, militant and religious groups protested against the campaign, also called "Oplan Tambay". On June 15, 25-year-old Genesis Argoncillo was arrested by three policemen allegedly for 'not wearing a shirt', although a blotter report that day at the police station showed that Argoncillo and five others had been arrested for alarm and scandal. Argoncillo was killed a few days later while in prison. On June 22, the police filed murder charges against two jail inmates who allegedly beat Argoncillo to death.

Lumads

Duterte threatened the bombing of Lumad community schools because of suspicions that they shelter communist rebels and teach students rebellion and subversion. Save Our Schools Network in Mindanao spokesperson Rius Valle said that on May 20, 2017, the Armed Forces of the Philippines burned down an entire community of Lumad people, which included a school and 35 houses in the Soccksargen region of Mindanao. On December 8, human rights group Karapatan asked the United Nations to probe the Lumad killings, after the group reported eight T'boli and Dulangan Manobo farmers allegedly killed by members of the 27th and 33rd Infantry Battalions of the Philippine Army.
On July 16, 2018, military presence in Barangay Diagaton, Lianga, Surigao del Sur prompted an expansive Lumad evacuation, which according to human rights group Karapatan-Caraga, was due to human rights abuses being committed against the Lumads. On July 23, Barug Katungod, a group that monitors the human rights situation in Mindanao, announced that Duterte's Mindanao martial law has shifted focus from terrorism to tribes fighting for ancestral domain, which caused Lumads evacuating due to fear of getting caught in the crossfire or being labeled as sympathizers of the New People's Army
The military claimed that the Andap Valley Complex, where Lumad communities are situated, is "influenced" by the New People's Army and requires soldiers to secure the inhabitants. Environmental organization Caraga Watch, however, claimed that the purpose of militarization was "to remove any opposition against the entry of coal mining companies in to the ancestral lands of the Lumad."
On August 9, Lumad evacuees formally returned to their homes after days to months in evacuation camps, although military presence in some areas have continued.

Poverty

On April 17, 2019, Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11310, also known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act. This law seeks to reduce national poverty by providing "conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years, to improve the health, nutrition and education aspect of their lives".

Tax reform

On December 19, 2017, Duterte signed into law the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act, which lowered personal income tax and increased consumption tax particularly excise taxes on vehicles, sugar-sweetened beverages, petroleum products, tobacco and non-essential goods. Duterte said that revenues collected from the TRAIN law will help fund the administration's massive infrastructure program.
The implementation of the TRAIN Law triggered protests from various left-wing groups. On January 15, protesters gathered at various public market sites, calling for the revocation of TRAIN. On May 21, several groups gathered at numerous gas station sites in the country to protest the continuous increase of oil prices, citing the TRAIN Law as the main cause. In November 2018, Duterte formally approved the suspension of the next round of excise tax increase on oil products under the TRAIN Law amid efforts to tame the country's high inflation at that time.

Terrorism

The Maute group, an ISIS-inspired terrorist group, had reportedly been able to establish a stronghold in Lanao del Sur since early 2016. The group had been blamed for the 2016 Davao City bombing and two attacks in Butig, Lanao del Sur, a town located south of Marawi, in 2016. Before the Duterte administration, the Philippine government had downplayed the threat of ISIS in the Philippines. Even after the February 2016 Butig clash with the Maute group, then-President Benigno Aquino III discounted the possibility of the Islamic State's presence in the country. He said that those behind the attack were just mercenaries wanting to be recognized by the Middle East-based terror group.
In November 2016, President Duterte confirmed the Maute group's affiliation with the Islamic State. Amidst fierce fighting in Butig on November 30, 2016, Duterte, in a command briefing in Lanao del Sur, warned the Maute group: "Ayaw ko makipag-away sa inyo. Ayaw ko makipag-patayan, but please, do not force my hand. I cannot be forever traveling here every month para lang makipag-usap, at pagtalikod ko patayan na naman. I do not want to mention anything, but please do not force my hand into it." On December 2, 2016, as the military regained control of Butig, the retreating Maute fighters reportedly left a note threatening to behead Duterte.
during the 2017 Bohol clashes.
On May 23, 2017, clashes between Philippine government security forces and militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups erupted in the city of Marawi.
set ablaze after Duterte ordered the Philippine Air Force to conduct airstrikes against the terrorists in the city during the Battle of Marawi
On the same day, Duterte signed Proclamation No. 216 declaring a 60-day martial law in Mindanao following clashes between the AFP and the Maute group in Marawi, Lanao del Sur. He said that the implementation is similar to Proclamation No. 1081 and expressed the possibility of extending the scope of the martial law nationwide if deemed necessary.
The Battle of Marawi became the longest urban battle in the modern history of the Philippines.
According to the Philippine government, the clashes began during an offensive in Marawi to capture Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of the ISIL-affiliated Abu Sayyaf group. A deadly firefight erupted when Hapilon's forces opened fire on the combined Army and police teams and called for reinforcements from the Maute group.
Maute group militants attacked Camp Ranao and occupied several buildings in the city, including Marawi City Hall, Mindanao State University, a hospital, and the city jail. They also occupied the main street and set fire to Saint Mary's Cathedral, Ninoy Aquino School, and Dansalan College, which is run by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. The militants also took a priest and several churchgoers hostage.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines stated that some of the terrorists were foreigners who had been in the country for a long time, offering support to the Maute group in Marawi. Their main objective was to raise an ISIS flag at the Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol and declare a wilayat or provincial ISIS territory in Lanao del Sur.
The fighting lasted for five months until October 17, 2017, the day after the deaths of militant leaders Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon. President Duterte declared Marawi as "liberated from terrorist influence". This was followed by another October 23, 2017 pronouncement of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that the five-month battle against the terrorists in Marawi had finally ended.

Tourism

Economic policy

Early in his term, Duterte's expletive-laden outbursts triggered the biggest exodus from stocks in a year and made the peso Asia's worst performer in September 2016. The Philippine currency was at a seven-year low and rounding out its worst month since May 2010. In the same month, the Philippine peso completed its biggest monthly decline since October 2000 amid the biggest outflow from the nation's stocks in a year. According to the Philippines' Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, the peso's slump this year is "mainly due to a deteriorating trade outlook because of rising imports of capital goods, which is normal for a country that is growing very fast". Currency strategists have, however, "predicted a rebound once investors see beyond Duterte's words".
After 100 days in office, former president Ramos, a political ally-mentor of Duterte said that "Duterte has been a huge disappointment and letdown" and "the government was losing badly by prioritizing a war on drugs at the expense of issues like poverty, living costs, foreign investment, and jobs". Based on subsequent surveys conducted by the Social Weather Stations, optimism in the economic prospects under the Duterte administration remains "excellent" with more Filipinos believing that the quality of their lives will improve in the next 12 months. This is supported by polls conducted by Pulse Asia one year after Duterte took office, wherein approval and trust ratings for Duterte still remain very high.
On November 2, 2018, the Philippines slipped 11 places from the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business rankings. The Department of Finance is demanding a correction from the World Bank, citing the smaller data set used to assess the country's credit base.
In September 2018, the inflation rate of the country skyrocketed to 6.7%, its highest in a decade. On September 21, 2018, Duterte signed Administrative Order No. 13, removing non-tariff barriers in the importation of agricultural products, to address soaring inflation rates. Inflation decreased in November 2018, at 5.8 to 6.6 percent. BSP decreased its inflation forecast for 2019, after the passage of the rice tariffication bill. Inflation further decreased from 6.7 percent in October 2018 to 0.8 percent in October 2019, the lowest inflation rate recorded since May 2016.

Foreign policy

The Duterte administration has vowed to pursue an "independent foreign policy" that would reject any meddling by foreign governments, reiterating Article II, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution which states: "The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy. In its relations with other states the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination." In September 2016, Duterte said: "We will observe and must insist on the time-honored principle of sovereignty, sovereign equality, non-interference and the commitment of peaceful settlements of dispute that will serve our people and protect the interests of our country."
Duterte made his first international trips as president to Vientiane, Laos and Jakarta, Indonesia on September 5–9, 2016.

ASEAN

Duterte has placed great importance on the Philippines' diplomatic relations with its ASEAN neighbors. Following tradition, his first trips outside the country were to Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and Singapore.
In 2017 the Philippines was chair and host to the ASEAN summits, a series of diplomatic conferences centering on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The culminating event was held in Manila on 10–14 November. It was attended by ten Asean leaders.

China and Russia

Following his inauguration as president, Duterte mentioned his willingness to "reorient" his foreign policy towards China and Russia, particularly in the areas of trade and commerce. During an interview with Al Jazeera, he expressed his willingness to conduct joint military exercises with China and Russia. In September, Duterte said that he is considering purchasing military equipment, particularly weaponries and armaments, from China and Russia to strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in addressing insurgency and counter-terrorism, saying that deals between the Philippines and the two countries are already in discussion and that the Chinese and Russian governments have offered the Philippines soft loans that would be payable in 2025.
prior to the bilateral meetings at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, October 20, 2016
On October 18–21, 2016, Duterte visited Beijing to meet with Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. While announcing his "separation" from the United States in front of Chinese and Filipino businessmen at the Philippines–China Trade and Investment Forum in Beijing on October 20, Duterte also said that he would realign himself with the Chinese ideological flow and that he might also travel to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin to "tell him that there are three of us against the world – China, Philippines, and Russia".
during the APEC summit in Lima, Peru, November 19, 2016.
On November 20, 2016, Duterte met with Putin during the sidelines of the APEC summit in Lima, Peru. Duterte has praised Putin's leadership skills and called him his "idol". Putin also invited Duterte to visit Moscow. Duterte said that he would visit Moscow on May 25, 2017, where a defense cooperation agreement between the Philippines and Russia is expected to be finalized.
During an interview with RT in November, Duterte said that the Philippines is "not ready" for military alliances with China and Russia due to the Mutual Defense Treaty signed between the Philippines and the U.S.; however, he clarified that the Philippines could seek stronger diplomatic cooperation with China and Russia, as well as other countries, "to make the world more peaceful". Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev expounded on Duterte's statement by saying that the Russian government is offering a strategic partnership with the Philippines, not a military alliance, and added that Russia does not believe in establishing military alliances with Asia. However, Khovaev explained that the Russian government is open to assisting the Philippines in purchasing Russian-made weaponry.
On May 1, 2017, following a visit to three Chinese naval ships at the Port of Davao, Duterte expressed interest in conducting joint military exercises between the Philippine Armed Forces and China's People's Liberation Army in Mindanao, particularly in the Sulu Sea.

Territorial dispute

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration tribunal in the Hague announced its ruling in favor of the Philippines in its case filed under the Benigno Aquino III administration in 2013 against China on issues regarding the South China Sea under the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, including the latter's nine-dash line claim which the tribunal ruled had no legal basis. Three days after, during a testimonial dinner in San Juan, Duterte asked former President Fidel Ramos to lead the Philippine envoy to Beijing for bilateral negotiations with China over the disputes. Ramos accepted the offer on July 23, but resigned on October 31. During his first State of the Nation Address on July 25, Duterte said that his administration "strongly affirms and respects" the ruling and would use it as a guide to negotiate for a resolution on the territorial disputes. Duterte prefers to discuss the issue quietly and directly with China and has vowed not to raise the issue before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Duterte said "he would not want to antagonize China" and would want to "maintain good relations with China" to "create an environment where we sit down and talk directly".
On October 12, Duterte declared his intention to terminate joint US–Philippine naval patrols in the South China Sea, which he believes could needlessly antagonize China. His reticent approach with China contrasts with his otherwise "belligerent rhetoric and swaggering persona"; he has received support for some political ads from an anonymous Chinese donor.
On October 20 in Beijing, Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to resume direct talks on the dispute.
When then U.S. Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson threatened China's positions on the islands, the Philippines said that Tillerson was speaking for the U.S. only in the U.S.'s interest and prerogatives. Delfin Lorenzana, Duterte's Defense Secretary, rejected the possibility of war against China over the islands in the South China Sea.
at the Blue House in Seoul on June 4, 2018.
On April 6, 2017, Duterte ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to occupy and fortify at least nine uninhabited islands in the South China Sea. He announced plans to visit the Philippine-administered Thitu Island during Independence Day and raise a Philippine flag there. Duterte also ordered the Philippine Navy to build structures on the Benham Rise in order to reassure the Philippines' sovereignty over the undersea region, following the sighting of Chinese survey vessels. He also announced plans to rename the Benham Rise to the Philippine Rise. On April 12, Duterte canceled his plan to visit the Thitu Island, citing goodwill and friendship with China. On April 21, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced the allocation of to develop the Thitu Island, despite rejection from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The development of the island is expected to include the construction of a marine research center, beaching facilities, a radio station, an ice plant, and a power station, as well as the improvement of the Rancudo airstrip runway. On May 16, 2017, Duterte signed an executive order formally renaming the Benham Rise to the Philippine Rise.
In February 2018, the Philippine Daily Inquirer published aerial surveillance photos of Chinese military fortifications in the South China Sea which showed runways, hangars, control towers, helipads, radomes and multi-storey buildings on reefs across the region, described by the newspaper as "island fortresses". The photos, which were mostly taken in late 2017, were authenticated by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which described them as "the most complete, detailed batch of aerial pics available", and stated that the "photos show China is nearly done with its militarization of South China Sea". Duterte's spokesman told reporters: " long been militarized. And the question is, what can we do?" - which led to accusations of dereliction of his "sacred core duty" of defending Philippine territory.

United States

On September 12, 2016, Duterte said that he is "not a fan of the Americans" and that he wants to "reorient" foreign policy with the United States. He requested that U.S. forces in Mindanao should leave the Philippines, specifically those who are part of the Operation Enduring Freedom, saying that it would "inflame the situation with the Abu Sayyaf". Duterte said on September 13 that he does not plan to cut ties with the United States, but wants to reiterate the administration's pursuit of an "independent foreign policy" in accordance with the Constitution; the administration will continue to honor mutual agreements like the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. On September 20, Duterte said: "I never said get out of the Philippines, for after all, we need them there in the China Sea. We don't have armaments."
On September 27, Duterte vowed not to allow the U.S. government to interfere with the policies of his administration. He criticized the U.S. government for "lecturing" his administration on human rights amidst their campaign on illegal drugs and said that he will "cross the Rubicon with the U.S." Duterte added that he plans to forge "new alliances" with China and Russia in trade and commerce. U.S. Department of State deputy spokesperson Mark Toner responded to Duterte's criticisms by saying that the Philippine–U.S. relations could still remain "strong and unabated" despite Duterte's criticisms. The following day, while addressing the Filipino community in Hanoi, Duterte said that the Balikatan military exercises and the joint naval patrols in the South China Sea between the Philippines and the U.S. in October would be "its last" in order to avoid provoking conflict with China.
, August 7, 2017
On October 5, Duterte accused the U.S. of refusing to sell armaments to the Philippines and said that he would rather purchase armaments from China and Russia. In an attempt to repair relations with the U.S., Duterte's Defense Secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, said Duterte was "misinformed" about the U.S. alliance: "Maybe, the defense ministry and the armed forces were remiss in providing him the correct information."
On October 6, Duterte's then-Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. denounced the idea of the Philippines being regarded as a "little brown brother" by the U.S. Yasay said that the Philippines had been "failed" by the U.S.
On October 20, while on a trip to Beijing, Duterte declared a "separation" from the United States which he stated had lost militarily, socially, and economically, and emphasized a realignment of the Philippines to move closer to China. During a press conference after arriving from Beijing, Duterte clarified that what he meant by "separation" was a "separation of a foreign policy" and not a severance of diplomatic ties, saying that it would not be feasible to cut diplomatic ties with the U.S. due to the large number of Filipino Americans. U.S. Department of State spokesperson John Kirby responded by saying: "We are going to be seeking an explanation of exactly what the president meant when he talked about separation from the U.S.; it's not clear what that means and all its ramifications." On October 23, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel R. Russel traveled to Manila to seek clarification and explanation for Duterte's comments with Philippine officials, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
in Manila, November 13, 2017
On November 7, Secretary Lorenzana clarified that the joint Balikatan exercises will continue along with the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, but the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training amphibious landing exercises between the Philippine Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy would be discontinued. He specified that bilateral drills on counter-terrorism, humanitarian response, special operations, engineering projects, and civic action will remain, all of which have been approved by Duterte.
Following the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar offered "warm congratulations" to Donald Trump on his election victory. He said that Duterte "look forward to working with the incoming administration for enhanced Philippines–US relations anchored on mutual respect, mutual benefit and shared commitment to democratic ideals and the rule of law". While in Kuala Lumpur, Duterte personally congratulated Trump by greeting him "Mabuhay!" and expressed hope that the Trump administration would honor obligations and treaties signed between the Philippines and the U.S. On December 2, Duterte called then President-elect Trump to personally congratulate him once more and invited him to visit the Philippines for the Twelfth East Asia Summit in 2017, while Trump invited Duterte to visit him in New York City and Washington, D.C. after the former's inauguration. On April 29, 2017, President Trump called Duterte to inform him of his planned visit to the Philippines in November for the East Asia Summit. Trump also extended an invitation to Duterte to visit him at the White House. During their call, Duterte urged Trump to show restraint in dealing with North Korea over their nuclear weapons program, warning him that the region could suffer "immensely". Trump also praised Duterte's drug war during the call, telling him "I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem".

Trust ratings

Two weeks into Duterte's presidency, on July 13, 2016, the Social Weather Stations conducted the first survey on his presidency since his inauguration on June 30, where Duterte received an "excellent" trust rating of 79% among 1,200 adults nationwide. A week later, on July 20, Pulse Asia released a poll conducted on July 2–8 which showed that 91% of Filipinos trust Duterte, making him the most trusted official in the Philippines since 1999, according to Pulse Asia. On January 8, 2018, Duterte's trust ratings fell to 82% according to an SWS poll. On April 26, 2018, Duterte's trust ratings further fell to 65%. A SWS survey released in September 2018 found that Duterte's trust ratings fell again to 57%. On the third quarter of 2018, Duterte's trust rating increased to 62%.
Duterte's approval rating has been relatively high throughout his presidency despite criticism and international opposition to his anti-narcotics drive. Duterte finished the first half of his six-year term with a record net satisfaction rating of 68%. In an SWS survey, conducted in April 2019, puts Duterte's approval ratings at 79%, higher than any of his predecessors at this stage in their presidencies. Duterte earned an approval rating of 87% on the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia. This is credited to poverty reduction and general success in hosting SEA Games.