The Wire

For the past month a half, the people of the Philippines have welcomed the their new president, Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte’s extremist policies, particularly overseeing an estimated 900 deaths in his “war on drugs”, have sparked major controversy across the western media.

Amidst these killings, Duterte’s popularity has shockingly thrived, with polls reflecting over 90% of the Philippine public showing him support.

This continued support, despite the violent reality of the country, suggest this type of violence may have been deeply embedded in the culture of the Philippines, long before the influence of Rodrigo Duterte.