-
Rodrigo Duterte
TOPIC
 / people

Rodrigo Duterte

Related Topics:
Rodrigo Duterte
Rodrigo Duterte
Rodrigo 'Rody' Roa Duterte was the 16th President of the Philippines. The former lawyer and mayor of Davao built a reputation on fighting crime and corruption. He had a zero-tolerance policy against drug traffickers, organised crime and vowed to re-introduce the death penalty.
Born
28 Mar 1945
Industry
Politics, Law
Job Title
Politician, Lawyer
Submerged houses and farmlands in Cagayan province, north of Manila, in November 2025, due to heavy rains brought about by Super Typhoon Fung-wong. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Did shelved anti-disaster scheme lead to Philippines’ flood control woes?

The NOAH project, which ran daily from 2012 to 2016, helped the Philippines avoid ‘mass casualties in one place affected by a hazard’.

videocam
SCMP Highlights

Trump reacts to China-Canada deal, ‘messy’ year for Philippines: 5 weekend reads

The Philippines

Philippines’ new gas find offers lifeline as Malampaya field starts to run dry

Asean

Opinion | Why US ops in Venezuela have shaken Asia-Pacific’s middle powers

Middle powers fear a return to ‘rules of the jungle’ geopolitics as rival powers carve out spheres of influence.

videocam
Illustration: Craig Stephens
The Philippines

Exclusive | Philippine army colonel faces charges after anti-Marcos post goes viral

Audie Mongao will also undergo psychiatric tests after he sparked a political storm by withdrawing support for the president.

videocam
The Philippines

Uniform justice? Why Philippine military expelled a lawmaker but not VP Duterte

Sources said legal ambiguity and political risk shaped how the armed forces handled two high-profile reservist cases.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The Philippines

‘Rule of law’: Philippine military lauds ex-general’s sedition arrest

Romeo Poquiz’s limited influence means his arrest is unlikely to spark a ‘chilling effect’ among former officials, observers say.

Romeo Poquiz was detained at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila after returning from a Bangkok holiday on Monday. Photo: Handout
The Philippines

Philippines flood-control probe ‘in peril’ after death of public works official

Analysts said the death removes a pivotal witness and exposes weaknesses in how authorities have handled evidence and testimony.

videocam
SCMP Highlights

Rise of Peranakan Chinese networks, Malaysian ex-PM jailed: 7 Asia highlights

From Indonesia fuming over flag stunt to Duterte’s drug war verdict upheld, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

The Philippines

Corruption, floods and clan wars rock Philippines in 2025

Deepening political feuds, ex-president Duterte’s ICC arrest and the South China Sea dispute have reshaped the Philippine landscape.

videocam
Protesters wearing masks depicting the faces of Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr march during a rally to mark the International Human Rights Day in Manila on December 10. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Philippine court upholds murder verdict in Duterte’s drug war case

While the ruling has been hailed as a win for human rights, it may not have much impact on Duterte’s ICC case, legal analysts say.

videocam
Filipino policemen (from left) Jeremiah Pereda, Arnel Oares and Jerwin Cruz attend a Senate inquiry in Pasay City on August 24, 2017. Photo: EPA
Singapore

Open Questions | George Yeo on superpower ‘headaches’ and why the US dollar could crack

Singapore’s former foreign minister also discusses Trump, the latest China-Japan dust-up, and rivalry between Hong Kong and the city state.

videocam
25
The Philippines

Is Philippines being unfairly named in Australia’s Bondi Beach shooting?

Australian police are looking into a trip the two suspects made to Davao City, but Philippine officials say it is not connected to the shooting.

videocam
5
US-China decoupling

Open Questions | Yeo on how Trump wants to avoid Taiwan upending China relations

Former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo says that Donald Trump is prioritising stable relations with China, and that the US is facing decline amid a shift to a multipolar world.

illustration by Lau Ka-kuen
SCMP Highlights

Malaysia’s dress code row, South Korea falls out with K-pop: 7 Asia highlights

From ex-NBA player’s cancer treatment to backlash against Malaysia’s ‘moral police’, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Lawyers say Melaka police have overstepped the mark after officers barred two women wearing skirts from entering a police station to report a car accident. Photo: Handout
The Philippines

Anti-dynasty bill in Philippines slammed as ‘ridiculous’ and weak

A proposal co-filed by one of President Marcos Jnr’s sons could allow 10 family members to hold office at once, critics warn.

The Philippines

Could a plunder probe weaken Philippine VP Sara Duterte’s 2028 prospects?

An insider said the filing is less about getting a conviction than opening the door to financial scrutiny that could damage her politically.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The Philippines

New corruption complaint against Philippine VP Duterte heightens political drama

The filing comes as a corruption crisis grows, setting up a tough legal fight that could threaten Duterte’s potential 2028 presidential bid.

videocam
Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte delivers a speech at the 90th anniversary celebration of the vice-president’s office in Manila last month. Photo: AP
SCMP Highlights

China’s ‘most beautiful’ bodyguard, Asia’s fastest man retires: 7 highlights

From a revolutionary facility in Shandong province to Hongkongers casting their ballots, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

The Philippines

Could ICC warrants against Duterte allies alter Philippines’ balance of power?

A former Duterte spokesman claims more of the ex-president’s allies will soon be arrested as part of a plot to ‘destroy the opposition’.

videocam
The Philippines

In Philippines, Marcos’ ratings sink as anti-corruption drive ‘backfires’

A new survey shows Marcos’ satisfaction ratings at only 21 per cent – his lowest since taking office in 2022.

A protester holds a slogan during an anti-corruption rally in Quezon City on November 16. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos’ satisfaction ratings fell to 21 per cent in November – his steepest decline since February this year. Photo: AP
The Philippines

Did Philippine VP Sara Duterte’s jailbreak ‘joke’ keep her dad in ICC detention?

Observers said the ruling may energise loyalists but is unlikely to sway undecided voters or ease the rivalry shaping Philippine politics.

videocam
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte appears via video link during an ICC hearing in The Hague in March 2025. Photo: Reuters
The Philippines

ICC rejects Philippines ex-president Duterte’s request for release

The court dismissed defence arguments that the 80-year-old should be released due to his advanced age and alleged declining health.

videocam
8
The Philippines

Marcos’ sister says Philippines has leadership ‘vacuum’ in new jab at president

Imee Marcos said they ‘kind of boxed me out’ when she raised her brother’s alleged cocaine addiction with the family.

videocam
The Philippines

As Philippines targets more Pogo figures, can Marcos regain public trust?

The flood-control scandal has a bigger impact on the Philippine president’s approval rating than any anti-Pogo moves, analysts say.

videocam
Harry Roque, a spokesman for ex-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, talks to journalists outside the International Criminal Court ahead of Duterte’s hearing in The Hague in March. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Philippine president on sister’s drug claims: ‘we’re worried about her’

The president suggested that something was troubling Imee Marcos, saying ‘the lady that you see talking on TV is not my sister’.

videocam
Imee Marcos (right) with her brother Ferdinand Marcos Jnr in 2014. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Fugitive ex-Philippine official accuses Marcos of ordering bogus projects

Ex-appropriations chairman Zaldy Co claims Marcos directed him to add US$1.7 billion in dubious projects to the national budget.

videocam
6
The Philippines

‘Test the waters’: rumoured ICC plan to arrest Duterte ally grips Philippines

The ombudsman’s revelation of an arrest warrant may be a calculated risk to test the waters on possible reactions, analysts say.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement