Decapitating the ‘trolls’ of Duterte
Sixth of a Series
By Edwin Espejo
July 2, 2021
The opposition should not make mistake about Duterte.
Duterte’s victory in 2016 was an exact mix of the right and dedicated people who joined his campaign machinery, perfect political timing, efficient campaign strategy that was people-driven and a very engaged citizenry spread throughout the country.
His throng of supporters, in the end, came not only from the masses but also from the middle class and a section of the political elite, the latter two jumping in when the Duterte bandwagon began to steamroll.
Duterte was the anti-thesis of everything in Philippine politics when he ran for president in 2016.
He was an outsider. He did not have the campaign machinery and the resources. He was self-effacing to the point that he himself was able to get away with his perceived and sometimes admitted weaknesses. He was shocking in his singular campaign narrative of drugs, crime and corruption. But he was embraced by the people who voted for him because he spoke their language and captured their frustrations in government and governance.
Duterte was a product that sold in 2016. To quote a marketing adage, the ad men can only be effective as the product they are selling.
He was neither a mainstream nor a social media creation. He was his own man.
Duterte was not also the perfect guy. He just happened to be at the perfect time.