I live in the Philippines. I talk to the people on the streets all the time. He still enjoys widespread support from the people in the barrios.
It's a third world country. They don't do things in the American way. There really isn't anything like the rule of law or a justice system. Maybe there should be. They would probably all be better off if there was, but there isn't.
The one thing we are enjoying now in the US is a man that is just steamrolling along with no filters but his own sense of Liberty and Freedom, which almost all Americans support (at least with lip service)
Duterte came in and on like gang busters and has a continued history (at least to the many video feeds I receive) of working for his people and nation.
I was a little disappointed when I learned of his familial connections to "rebels" and commies, but you can't pick your relatives and family, so I thought he was doing as best he could given his circumstances.
NOW, he's pissed off (again) and can stop trying to be a national nice guy and will go after the enemy.
Duterte is IMO, the best thing to happen to the Philippines and I pray he is successful in ridding the land of the enemy to peace and freedom.
Maayong gabii.
Well, it looks like he is trying to make the best of vigilantism, which tends to punish itself in the long run. Now the communists don’t see him as credible.
Philippines are nominally Catholic, but they do not seem to be upholding any kind of robust idea of God. Because once God is acknowledged as standing, then some kind of sane government has an acknowledged basis to stand beneath Him, as well as all the people. A “God” who is only a wish or an attenuated hope (like, I hope I win the lottery) is far too feeble. Flickers of resolve heavily polluted by self righteousness seems to be the best that can be expected.
So who will be a missionary to the Philippines? Even if it is only to tell the Catholic church there that it needs to start living like it actually means it, so that God may be seen through witnesses that are sincere.