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The crazy life of Rodrigo Duterte - the Filipino President who claims to have thrown an enemy out of a helicopter

The crazy life of Rodrigo Duterte - the Filipino President who claims to have thrown an enemy out of a helicopter

Duterte began his political career in Davao City, located in the south of the Philippines archipelago.

The crazy life of Rodrigo Duterte - the Filipino President who claims to have thrown an enemy out of a helicopter

Riding the same staunch, anti-drug rhetoric that has become a hallmark of his presidency, Duterte rose from the rank of Vice Mayor to Mayor — taking over in 1988. Here he is on the right.

Riding the same staunch, anti-drug rhetoric that has become a hallmark of his presidency, Duterte rose from the rank of Vice Mayor to Mayor — taking over in 1988. Here he is on the right.

Under Duterte's 22-year reign as mayor, strict laws were imposed banning the sale of alcohol past 1 a.m., while children must return home at 10 p.m. Many residents of the coastal city feel an immense sense of security and gratitude towards their ex-mayor. "Even at night it’s O.K. here, it’s safe," said one of the city's students.

Under Duterte

Source: The New York Times.

The statistics tell a different story, though. According to the national police, Davao ranks first for murder and second for rape among Filipino cities. Asked what would happen if the then-mayor were to win national Presidency, a Davao slum resident said: "Blood will flow like a river."

The statistics tell a different story, though. According to the national police, Davao ranks first for murder and second for rape among Filipino cities. Asked what would happen if the then-mayor were to win national Presidency, a Davao slum resident said: "Blood will flow like a river."

Source: Reuters.

Duterte didn't always leave it to the city police to deal with petty crimes. He is alleged to have once reprimanded a hapless tourist for violating the city smoking ban by forcing him to eat his cigarette butt.

Duterte didn

Source: The Washington Post.

The murder rates in Devao are particularly high due to vigilante death squads, which systematically gun down petty criminals and drug dealers. Human rights groups say at least 1,400 extrajudicial murders have taken place in Davao since 1998.

The murder rates in Devao are particularly high due to vigilante death squads, which systematically gun down petty criminals and drug dealers. Human rights groups say at least 1,400 extrajudicial murders have taken place in Davao since 1998.

Source: Reuters.

Duterte himself has long been linked with the Davao Death Squad, which he has contradictorily denied and confirmed on separate occasions. Last September, an ex-member of the Death Squad told a senate committee hearing that Duterte had ordered many of the group's attacks and executed about 50 himself. This includes allegedly feeding a man to a crocodile.

Duterte himself has long been linked with the Davao Death Squad, which he has contradictorily denied and confirmed on separate occasions. Last September, an ex-member of the Death Squad told a senate committee hearing that Duterte had ordered many of the group

Source: The Guardian.

Duterte was married once to Elizabeth Zimmerman, a woman of German-American descent. Together, they had three children but annulled the marriage after 27 years. Talking about her ex-husband, Zimmerman said "Yes, [Rodrigo] is really a very good leader. That is all he is. But when it comes to family, he is not capable of taking care of it." He has another daughter, Veronica, with his common-law wife, Cielito "Honeylet" Avanceña.

Duterte was married once to Elizabeth Zimmerman, a woman of German-American descent. Together, they had three children but annulled the marriage after 27 years. Talking about her ex-husband, Zimmerman said "Yes, [Rodrigo] is really a very good leader. That is all he is. But when it comes to family, he is not capable of taking care of it." He has another daughter, Veronica, with his common-law wife, Cielito "Honeylet" Avanceña.

Source: Rappler.

As President, Duterte has made statements that have shocked the world. In September, he flipped a middle finger to the EU when rejecting their concerns about his drug crackdown. He also called US President Barack Obama a "son of a b----."

As President, Duterte has made statements that have shocked the world. In September, he flipped a middle finger to the EU when rejecting their concerns about his drug crackdown. He also called US President Barack Obama a "son of a b----."

Watch the video here.

Even more recently, Duterte claimed to have thrown someone out of a helicopter as a warning to corrupt politicians. This message was bolstered by his recollection of summarily executing criminal suspects while mayor of Devao: "I was really looking for a confrontation so I could kill."

Even more recently, Duterte claimed to have thrown someone out of a helicopter as a warning to corrupt politicians. This message was bolstered by his recollection of summarily executing criminal suspects while mayor of Devao: "I was really looking for a confrontation so I could kill."

Watch our video of the speech here.

Around 6,000 fatalities have occurred in the war on drugs and prisons are vastly overpopulated. Quezon City Jail, for instance, is almost 3,000 inmates over capacity.

Around 6,000 fatalities have occurred in the war on drugs and prisons are vastly overpopulated. Quezon City Jail, for instance, is almost 3,000 inmates over capacity.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters.

Despite all the controversy, Duterte's popularity seems to go from strength to strength, domestically at least. An independent poll from last October reported just 11% as "dissatisfied" with his leadership.

Despite all the controversy, Duterte

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