Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

A politician who makes rape jokes and is called "The Trump of the East" is set to become Philippines president

Duterte himself says he has killed “around three” people.

consumer / YouTube

THE PHILIPPINES LOOKS set to elect Rodrigo Duterte as President today, after he surged into the lead in early votes.

Rodrigo Duterte, the longtime mayor of the southern city of Davao, has attracted millions with his vows of brutal but quick solutions to the nation’s twin plagues of crime and poverty, which many believed had worsened despite strong economic growth in recent years.

Duterte had 1.31 million votes, nearly double his nearest rival, with about 8% of the total counted, according to CNN Philippines.

His style has led some commentators to call him “the Trump of the East” in reference to Donald Trump.

Duterte has pledged to kill tens of thousands of criminals, establish one-man rule and embrace communist rebels if elected. Already in Davao, a semi-official “death squad” is suspected of the death or disappearance of over 1,000 people between 1998 and 2008.

Duterte himself says he has killed “around three” people.

Philippines Elections Bullit Marquez Bullit Marquez

He also boasted repeatedly about his Viagra-fuelled affairs, while promising voters his mistresses would not cost a lot because he kept them in cheap boarding houses and took them to short-stay hotels for sex.

Last month, he caused controversy when speaking about an Australia missionary who had been gang-raped and killed in Davao.

“She was so beautiful,” he said “I thought, the mayor should have been first. What a waste.”

When asked about this joke, he said that he had been speaking “plain sense”.

In his final rally on Saturday, Duterte repeated to tens of thousands of cheering fans his plans to end crime within six months of starting his presidency.

“Forget the laws on human rights,” said Duterte, who has been accused of running vigilante death squads in Davao.

“If I make it to the presidential palace, I will do just what I did as mayor. You drug pushers, hold-up men and do-nothings, you better go out. Because as the mayor, I’d kill you.”

With AFP reporting

Read: BBC journalist expelled from North Korea after being held for three days

Read: Greek protesters clash with riot police over further austerity reforms

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
26 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Todd
    Favourite Stephen Todd
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 3:22 PM

    The headline reads as if we’re flooded with SNAs when we could probably still do with more. It just highlights our severe lack of Garda resources

    149
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Antoinette Mullen
    Favourite Antoinette Mullen
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 3:21 PM

    What is disappointing is the number that are full time posts. 13,000 plus SNA’s sounds great but a high number are working on fragmented hours from as little as 5-6 hours per week. That’s not a sustainable job.

    107
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Louis Jacob
    Favourite Louis Jacob
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 5:04 PM

    Totally redundant point. It’s like saying there are more teachers than tram drivers. God I hate enda.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cranium
    Favourite Cranium
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 4:06 PM

    What a pile of steaming horse manure. The propaganda is strong in this one.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michelle Dermody
    Favourite Michelle Dermody
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 7:38 PM

    Not Every child who is entitled to an SNA receives one. They may receive “half of one ” as in part -time. Some SNA’s are forced to work around 3 or more children with very complex needs in schools and the reality is that they system becomes diluted and unefficient. A person csn not be in two places at once! So ENDA is lying again….

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michelle Dermody
    Favourite Michelle Dermody
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 7:41 PM

    The system , inefficient and can. Text predictor doesn’t help!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P.J. Nolan
    Favourite P.J. Nolan
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 8:07 PM

    @Michelle Dermody:
    Don’t you mean that’s Enda’s fault as well?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Linda Oreilly
    Favourite Linda Oreilly
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 7:53 PM

    Totally misleading…..I would image a large number of those are not full time…years ago when I worked as a SNA, a Seno decided that two children in Junior Infants should share a SNA….so the SNA asked her this question ‘If there is a fire, which child will I pick up, the one with mobility problems or the one who will bolt because I cannot carry 2′..made no difference they still had to share the SNA….

    it s all just spin.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Thomas
    Favourite David Thomas
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 4:08 PM

    Now ye know who to call if anyone is burgled

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SteveÓ
    Favourite SteveÓ
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 6:57 PM

    @David Thomas:

    Batman?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Valthebear
    Favourite Valthebear
    Report
    Dec 29th 2016, 9:43 AM

    Actually being granted the services of an SNA for a child is very difficult and the process very arduous ans bureaucratic. More spin from the gov

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds