Duterte has come up through the ranks and has succeeded at every level and he, like Trump, never wanted to be President.
He was forced by the people (actually, some Philippine Patriots just started advertising him and the people ran with the ball) and Trump was content to be a successful real estate magnate, but his own patriotism and common sense wouldn't allow him to sit quietly anymore.
Duterte is using the means available to him to rid his country of obstacles interfering with the Philippines becoming a free(er) and happy nation (they ARE that picturesque "happy people" you envision) and Trump is using the means available to him to eliminate the obstacles interfering with OUR freedom and "pursuit of happiness".
I think both men have a healthy dose of incurable idealism
I wasn’t talking about any alleged desire to protect his nation. Pandering to China is certainly not conducive to such protection. Invoking Adolf is most definitely socialist.