Duterte’s Art of the Deal
America suffers from a credibility gap in the Philippines, and Duterte has exploited this with conviction and verve.
More conventional-thinking members of the security establishment, including former president Fidel Ramos (Duterte’s senior adviser and a West Point Alumnus) and Secretary of Defense Delfin Lorenzana (former Veterans Affairs attaché at Philippine Embassy in Washington), have conscientiously sought to make sure Duterte’s mouth isn’t necessarily the policy of the state. The military brass, which is largely American-trained and equipped, consistently lobbies for maintenance of the foundation of existing security ties with Washington. No matter how popular Duterte is, ignoring the views of the armed forces is just one step too far.
Richard Javad Heydarian is an assistant professor in international affairs and political science at De La Salle University. He previously served as a policy advisor at the Philippine House of Representatives.
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