Rodrigo Duterte

Rodrigo Roa Duterte KGCR (English: /dəˈtɜːrteɪ/, Tagalog: [ɾɔˈdɾigɔ ˈɾɔwa dʊˈtɛɾtɛ] ^ⓘ; born March 28, 1945), also known as Digong, Rody,^[6] and by the initials DU30 and PRRD,^[7][8] is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (formerly PDP–Laban), the ruling political party in the Philippines during his presidency. Duterte is the first president of the Philippines to be from Mindanao,^[9][10] and is the oldest person to assume office, beginning his term at age 71.^[11]

Quick Facts 16th President of the Philippines, Vice President ...

His Excellency[lower-alpha 1] Rodrigo Roa Duterte KGCR
Official portrait, 2016
16th President of the Philippines
In office June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022
Vice President	Leni Robredo
Preceded by	Benigno Aquino III
Succeeded by	Bongbong Marcos
Mayor of Davao City
In office June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Vice Mayor	Paolo Duterte
Preceded by	Sara Duterte
Succeeded by	Sara Duterte
In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010
Vice Mayor	Luis Bonguyan (2001–07) Sara Duterte (2007–10)
Preceded by	Benjamin de Guzman
Succeeded by	Sara Duterte
In office February 2, 1988 – June 30, 1998
Vice Mayor	Dominador Zuño (acting) Luis Bonguyan Benjamin de Guzman
Preceded by	Jacinto Rubillar
Succeeded by	Benjamin de Guzman
Vice Mayor of Davao City
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013
Mayor	Sara Duterte
Preceded by	Sara Duterte
Succeeded by	Paolo Duterte
In office May 2, 1986 – November 27, 1987[lower-alpha 2]
Mayor	Zafiro Respicio
Preceded by	Cornelio Maskariño
Succeeded by	Gilbert Abellera
Member of the House of Representatives from Davao City's 1st district
In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2001
Preceded by	Prospero Nograles
Succeeded by	Prospero Nograles
Chairman of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino
Incumbent
Assumed office February 7, 2016
President	Koko Pimentel (2016–20) Manny Pacquiao (2020–21) Alfonso Cusi (2021–22) Jose Alvarez (2022–present)
Preceded by	Ismael Sueno
Chairman of the Liberal Party in Davao City
In office 2009 – February 21, 2015
Preceded by	Peter T. Laviña
Personal details
Born	Rodrigo Roa Duterte (1945-03-28) March 28, 1945 (age 79) Maasin, Leyte, Philippine Commonwealth
Political party	PDP–Laban / PDP (1998–2009; 2015–present)[lower-alpha 3][2][3]
Other political affiliations	Liberal (2009–15)[2][3] Nacionalista (1990–98)[4] Lakas ng Dabaw (1988)[5] Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (local party; 2011–present)
Spouse	Elizabeth Zimmerman ​ ​ (m. 1973; ann. 2000)​
Domestic partner	Honeylet Avanceña (c. 1996–present)
Children	Paolo Sara Sebastian Veronica
Parent(s)	Vicente Duterte Soledad Roa
Residence	Davao City
Education	Holy Cross College of Digos (secondary)
Alma mater	Lyceum of the Philippines University (BA) San Beda College (LL.B)
Signature
Rodrigo Duterte's voice Rodrigo Duterte affirms the Philippines v. China arbitral ruling before the United Nations General Assembly. Recorded September 22, 2020

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Born in Maasin, Leyte (now in Southern Leyte), Duterte moved to Davao as a child where his father, Vicente Duterte, served as provincial governor. He studied political science at the Lyceum of the Philippines University, graduating in 1968, before obtaining a law degree from San Beda College of Law in 1972. He then worked as a lawyer and was a prosecutor for Davao City, before becoming vice mayor and, subsequently, mayor of the city in the wake of the 1986 People Power Revolution. Duterte won seven terms and served as mayor of Davao for over 22 years, during which the once crime-ridden city became peaceful and investor-friendly.^[12][13]

Duterte's 2016 presidential campaign led to his election victory. During his presidency, his domestic policy focused on combating the illegal drug trade by initiating the controversial war on drugs, fighting crime and corruption,^[14][15][16] and intensified efforts against terrorism and communist insurgency. He launched a massive infrastructure plan,^[17][18] initiated liberal economic reforms,^[19] streamlined government processes,^[20] and proposed a shift to a federal system of government which was ultimately unsuccessful.^[21] He also oversaw the controversial burial of Ferdinand Marcos,^[22][23] the 2017 Battle of Marawi,^[24] and the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[25] He declared the intention to pursue an "independent foreign policy", and strengthened relations with China and Russia.^[26] He initially announced his candidacy for vice president in the 2022 election; in October 2021, he said he was retiring from politics. The next month, he filed his candidacy for senator but withdrew it on December 14.^[27]

Duterte's political positions have been described as populist,^[28][29][30] as well as nationalist.^[31][32][33] His political success has been aided by his vocal support for the extrajudicial killing of drug users and other criminals.^[34] His career has sparked numerous protests and attracted controversy, particularly over human rights issues and his controversial comments. Duterte has repeatedly confirmed to have personally killed criminal suspects during his term as mayor of Davao.^[35][36] Extrajudicial killings that were allegedly committed by the Davao Death Squad between 1998 and 2016 during Duterte's mayoralty have also been scrutinized by human-rights groups and the Office of the Ombudsman.^[37][38] The victims were mainly alleged drug users, alleged petty criminals, and street children.^[39][40] The International Criminal Court opened a preliminary investigation into Duterte's drug war in 2018,^[41] prompting Duterte to withdraw the Philippines from the body in response.^[42] He is the only president in the history of the Philippines not to declare his assets and liabilities.^[43] Duterte's popularity and domestic approval rating remained relatively high throughout his presidency and by the end of his term, he was the most popular post-EDSA (1986 People Power Revolution) president.^[44][45][46]