Written for The Diplomat
The year 2021 ended tragically for the Philippines as Typhoon Rai (known locally as Odette) battered the southern part of the country, including prime tourism destinations. Recovery had barely begun when the Omicron variant once again plunged the country into panic, in addition to triggering a new set of mobility restrictions. The year 2022 is shaping up to be a tougher year, but many Filipinos are pinning their hopes on the changes that the upcoming presidential election will bring.
The Options for Duterte’s Post-Presidency
Written for The Diplomat
Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency will come to an end on June 30, but he has been packing up his things at the Malacañang presidential palace since February. The country’s first president from Mindanao island will return to his home in Davao City where he served as mayor for nearly three decades.
Duterte was invited to be the anti-drug czar of the incoming Marcos government but his spokesperson said he is not keen on accepting the role. His executive secretary subsequently divulged that he is preparing to teach at a police academy in Davao. Duterte was a former prosecutor before his appointment as vice mayor in 1986
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