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Who is the real Duterte? A loose cannon, or calm and calculated politician

The fuse has been lit and now the Philippines is waiting for the fireworks

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Activists with stained hands next to a portrait of Rodrigo Duterte, who was sworn as Philippine President on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign sticker features his name in-between two front-facing fists. They are stuck to car bumpers, motorbikes and even the rickety wooden carts pushed by rubbish collectors.

People here expect nothing of Duterte if not impact.

On Thursday he was sworn in as president and in his inauguration speech, promised a “relentless” and “sustained” war on drugs and crime.

He also affirmed his commitment “to due process and the ­rule of law” which is a departure from a recent speech where he imagined reducing drug use by killing dealers at a rate of “10 a day for six years”.

Such outbursts have been a regular feature of his campaign drawing international attention. He called the pope “a son of a b****”, condoned killing corrupt journalists and made the world’s most deplorable rape joke.

Duterte loses control when he speaks because he wants to please the crowd
Aries Arugay, political analyst

“Duterte loses control when he speaks because he wants to please the crowd,” political analyst, Aries Arugay, said. “Voters are aware that he’s not the kind of ­person they want representing them overseas or at state functions but [they believe] he can deliver change.”

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