It was certainly majority vote that proclaimed Rodrigo Duterte in the presidency. With 16 million votes, almost 7 million difference from Mar Roxas, it was simply indisputable. But what made Duterte Win? This the question posted by Aries Arugay, a Political Science professor from the University of the Philippines Diliman.
Before he detailed the answers in the question, he also gave an overview about the previous administration and described how Aquino was an elitist, focusing on the the economic growth and stability of the country. He commended aquino for having high approval ratings and for his success in the country's economic growth. But he also noted that these achievements were only felt by the top one percent.
“His accountability campaign was selective – it severely punished his administration’s enemies while its political allies were unscathed. Economic growth was deemed one of the highest in the region but its benefits were only felt by the top one per cent of the population, with the rest of the country remaining mired in high unemployment and poverty” said Arugay.
This is one of the factors of why Duterte won. According to Arugay, the Filipinos were dissatisfied with what's happening during the Aquino Administration which shy them away from voting Roxas. “In the end, the incumbent failed to appreciate that poverty, inequality, corruption, lack of order, and criminality were true facts suffered daily by ordinary Filipinos.” Arugay said.
He also said that Duterte attacked the problems differently and even recounted the problems that were not given attention. He was, Arugay said, the only one who understood the Filipinos.
“Duterte pounced on his opponents over their lack of concern with basic, visceral issues that affected all Filipinos. He promised to crack down on crime and illegal drugs but at the same time offer a hand of peace to communists and Muslim rebels. As a candidate from the margins of society ignored by the political establishment, he wanted to develop the outer regions of the Philippines by shifting to a federal system of government. These visions of change fascinated voters across socioeconomic classes.”
“Duterte’s victory was a revolt against a regime that stubbornly remained elitist, exclusionary, and unresponsive to pressing problems faced by the populace.” Arugay said.
Source: TNP , Filipinewsph, Asiapacific
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