Digong, dating mayor ‘who talked like a Mob boss’—TIME

Inihayag ng Malacañang na bagamat iba pa rin ang dating ng pamununo ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte para sa ibang bansa, kuntento naman ang mga Pinoy sa pamamahala ng Presidente, at alinsunod sa batas ang paraan nito ng pagpapatupad ng hustisya.

Ito ang inihayag ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque makarang mapabilang si Duterte sa “strongmen” leaders na itinampok sa cover ng TIME Magazine para sa international edition nito na ilalathala sa Mayo 14, 2018.

Bukod kay Duterte, tampok din sa cover story sina Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, at Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Sa artikulo, inilarawan si Duterte bilang isang “former mayor who talked more like a Mob boss than a President, on his promises to wipe out the drug trade with his own brand of justice.”

“Regardless of slant, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has demonstrated strong and decisive leadership – a quality appreciated by Filipinos as evidenced by the Chief Executive’s high satisfaction, approval, trust and performance ratings,” sabi ni Roque.

“Filipinos have learned not to take PRRD literally with his colorful language but they have surely taken seriously the issues the President has espoused, such as the war on drugs and crime. “The drug problem is not only a Philippine concern. It is a global burden and the Philippines’ war on drugs has been acknowledged by countries and leaders, including Indonesia, China, President Donald Trump and police leaders from other Southeast Asian countries.

“The President’s brand of justice strictly adheres to the rule of law where the dismantling of the drug apparatus ensures the proper investigation of all drug-related killings,” saad pa sa pahayag kahapon ni Roque.

Unang naitampok si Duterte sa cover ng TIME Magazine noong Abril 23, 2016 nang binansagan siyang “The Punisher”. Abril 2017 naman nang manguna ang Pangulo sa online poll ng magazine para sa 2017 Top 100 Most Influential People.