Diehard Duterte Supporters
![]() | This article is written like a personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay that states a Wikipedia editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic. (April 2022) |
Diehard Duterte Supporters (DDS) is a label popularly associated with (and also adopted by) the supporters of the 16th president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte,[1] who they see as a necessary strongman.[2][3][4] The term was popularized during the 2016 presidential elections and has since been used to refer to the most "diehard" among Duterte's loyalists.[5] The term is also commonly used by his opposition to refer to people who they allege to be engaging in internet trolling and disruptive behaviour online to defend Duterte.[6]
Its initialism, DDS, was taken directly from the Davao Death Squad—an alleged vigilante group that had existed in Davao City during Duterte's term as mayor.[7]
Ideology
[edit]As their self-appellation suggests, the DDS are identified by their unwavering loyalty to Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Sara Duterte, rather than alignment to any particular political-economic ideology.[8] The DDS mirror Duterte's policy stances and shifts, even when such shifts contradict his self-identification as a socialist and membership in a democratic socialist party,[a] PDP–Laban.[12][18][19] Accordingly, observers have described the DDS as a right-wing populist or even far-right phenomenon the existence of which preserves the status quo.[2][11][20][21] Such an assertion has been demonstrated by the expansion in recent years of the historical and religiously informed cultural hostility toward left-wing politics in the country as the Philippines has been described as the most right-wing country in the world,[9][22] which had been previously reserved for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) but which had during Duterte's presidency begun to include national-democratic, social-liberal and even centrist organizations such as the Makabayan, Akbayan and Liberal parties,[23] respectively.
In common with Duterte's original support base outside Manila,[24] the DDS had been enthusiastic about the subsequently derailed transition to a federal form of government through constitutional reform.[25] Some within the DDS, disillusioned by both the social doctrines of the Catholic Church and the sanctimoniousness of the professional–managerial class (PMC), may have also stood behind left-leaning causes such as the redefinition of civil marriage,[26] which Duterte had also supported but has since backtracked on.[27] The DDS have also mirrored calls made by some core supporters for the installation of a revolutionary government with Duterte as leader.[2][28] Such calls, however, have been motivated less by a willingness to pursue systemic transformation than by a desire for greater participation in the status quo.[2]
Behavior
[edit]The DDS are distinguished by their uninhibited use of rabid and vitriolic speech,[8][29] which mirrors Duterte's own.[30][31][32] They respond to the slightest criticism of Duterte with accusations of bias, shilling,[b] wokescolding, CPP membership or sympathizing with the New People's Army (NPA), notwithstanding Duterte's own tactical dealings with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) during his mayorship of Davao.[33][34] The DDS usually engage in online bullying and harassment against all activists, as well as the Otso Diretso electoral alliance, Vice President Leni Robredo, and even fellow Dutertists suspected of disloyalty,[4][35][36] often by issuing threats or tagging them implicitly for punishment.[1][8][37] Dilawan[c] and pulahan[40] are two of the slurs most frequently employed to shut down or gaslight those marked for harassment.[8][41][42] The DDS, despite Duterte's claims to being a socialist,[9][19] have also participated in amplified smear campaigns directed against organizers of and contributors to COVID-19 mutual-aid efforts.[43][44] It is for these reasons that the DDS are collectively considered even by otherwise sympathetic analysts as a successful hate group.[45]
Long before the DDS' ascent to national prominence,[46][47] however, certain PMC actors themselves had allegedly orchestrated smear campaigns, known locally as "black propaganda", through SMS and other means against disfavored politicians and unapproved-of election candidates.[48][49] Such derision has been described as a desire on the part of members of the PMC to "want to humiliate their adversaries by attributing to them a desperate lack of intelligence, empathy, and virtue".[50]
Organizational representation
[edit]Several organizations and social-media communities bear the DDS initialism as a way of signifying unapologetic allegiance to Duterte.[51] Some of these are the Duterte Youth, Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Sanduguan (PDDS) and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).[52][53] These organizations claim to represent sectors of Philippine society marginalized by those who had taken power through the first EDSA Revolution and betrayed by those behind the second.[10][11][12]
Global context
[edit]The DDS is part of an ascendant global far right;[54] indeed, members find affinity with right-wing populist movements across the globe and their respective leaders.[13][21] In the academic and popular discourse, parallels had been drawn between the DDS and other strongman populist movements such as Erdoğanism in Turkey, Bolsonarism in Brazil and Trumpism in the United States,[23][45] among many others,[55] notwithstanding the uniqueness of the conditions that give rise to and, in turn, motivate each of them.[56] For instance, it has been demonstrated that popular support for Duterte has been driven to a significant extent by expatriate workers resentful of having to support themselves and their families from abroad,[54] a motivating factor only partially shared by workers in core countries. Also, Filipino culture is more susceptible to strongmen, as in the ancient Philippines, tribal leaders needed a cult-like following to maintain power. In addition, far-right beliefs are prominent in Filipino culture.[54]
See also
[edit]- Cult
- Ferdinand Marcos' cult of personality
- Mocha Uson Blog
- Pinoy pride
- Bolsonarismo - Brazilian equivalent
- People's Party of Canada - Canadian equivalent
- Putinism - Russian equivalent
- Right Wing Death Squad – Far-right slogan
- Trumpism - American equivalent
- Brexit - British equivalent
Notes
[edit]- ^ National democrats,[9] along with others who are placed to the left of social democrats and democratic socialists on the political spectrum,[2][10] themselves refute Duterte's self-proclaimed socialist credentials given his inability, due to structural constraints,[10][11] to concretely and seriously tackle the economic aspects of liberalism.[12][13] Such constraints have had a similar dampening effect on the actions of other socialist leaders such as François Mitterrand and Evo Morales.[14][15][16] Significantly, however, and unlike his predecessors, Duterte is the first Philippine president to have had "no reservations" in openly declaring his ostensible socialism while operating within a hostile political-economic environment,[9] drawing comparisons to Bernie Sanders' renormalization of the previously taboo term socialism in US political discourse.[17]
- ^ Shills are referred to as bayaran (literally "paid") in the national language which, to some extent, may also refer to prostitutes.
- ^ Dilawan loosely translates as "Yellow-supporter" in the national language, in reference to the color employed by protesters in the People Power Revolution. This usage, however, is a misnomer given how Duterte's own party had participated in the protests and was indeed co-founded by none other than Corazón Aquino's husband.[38] In addition, Sara Duterte, Duterte's daughter, recounts how her father had helped sear the significance of EDSA I into her mind.[39]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Contreras, A. P. (2020-02-01). "Labels and political tagging". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on 2021-04-25. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
- ^ a b c d e Bello y Flores, Walden (2018-01-01). "Filipinas: ¿Un "gobierno revolucionario" de Duterte?". Sin permiso. Archived from the original on 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
- ^ "War on Sensemaking II, Daniel Schmachtenberger - RebelWisdom". 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ a b "Facebook woes". The Manila Times. 3 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
- ^ Abillar, Adel (2020-09-01). "Before we pray for the President". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
- ^ Heydarian, Richard (2020-12-15). "Dutertismo: Five types of supporters". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2020-12-17. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
- ^ Robillos, Alyosha. "Duterte: There is no Davao Death Squad". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
- ^ a b c d Contreras, Antonio (2021-01-19). "The deadly outcome of free hate speech". The Manila Times. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ a b c d Palatino, R. (2017, May 2). Is the Philippines' Duterte really a leftist? The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2017/05/is-the-philippines-duterte-really-a-leftist/ Archived 2021-04-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c "Why Duterte has to be ousted, and why even that won't be enough to defend ourselves". Rappler. 26 August 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ a b c Chua, Ethan (2020-08-29). "The End of Liberal Democracy in the Philippines". Lausan Collective. Archived from the original on 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
- ^ a b c Magsalin, S. (2020, March 31). Towards an anarchism in the Philippine archipelago. Southeast Asian Anarchist Library. https://sea.theanarchistlibrary.org/library/simoun-magsalin-towards-an-anarchism-in-the-philippine-archipelago-en Archived 2021-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Fraser, N. (2017, January 2). The end of progressive neoliberalism. Dissent. https://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/progressive-neoliberalism-reactionary-populism-nancy-fraser Archived 2021-12-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kaup, B. Z. (2010). A neoliberal nationalization? The constraints on natural-gas-led development in Bolivia. Latin American Perspectives, 37(3). https://www.doi.org/10.1177%2F0094582X10366534
- ^ Broder, D. (2019). The state we need. Jacobin, 32, 28.
- ^ Birch, J. (2021, February 13). The rise and fall of French socialism. Jacobin. https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/02/french-socialism-francois-mitterrand Archived 2021-03-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Engler, M. (2017). Naming our desire: How do we talk about socialism in America? Dissent. https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/talking-about-socialism-america-michael-harrington-dsa Archived 2021-04-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Cinco, Maricar (April 18, 2016). "Duterte: I'm a socialist, not a communist; last card". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ a b "Duterte and PDP–Laban as "Leftist"". CNN Philippines. 2021-07-07. Archived from the original on 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
- ^ Docena, Herbert; Hetland, Gabriel (2016-06-30). "Why Duterte Is Unlikely to Pursue Socialism". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
- ^ a b Bello y Flores, Walden (2021-05-21). "Walden Bello on Rodrigo Duterte and Fascism". Rappler. Archived from the original on 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
- ^ Lalu, G. P. (2021, January 19). UP students poke fun at DND's claims campuses are communist recruitment centers. Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1385865/up-students-poke-fun-at-dnds-claims-that-campuses-are-communist-recruitment-grounds Archived 2021-02-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Trump and the diehard Duterte supporters". The Manila Times. 24 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
- ^ Lorenzana, L. M. C. (2021, February 10). Duterte's time running out—monumental failures. Manila Times. https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/02/10/opinion/columnists/dutertes-time-running-out-monumental-failures/838741/ Archived 2021-02-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Reviving the federalist dream – The Manila Times". www.manilatimes.net. 9 December 2020. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ Tan, Rebecca. "In the fight for gay marriage in the Philippines, Duterte could be an unlikely ally". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ Reginio, M. K. (n.d.). Group says Duterte's LGBT promises "empty". Kodao Productions. https://kodao.org/group-says-dutertes-lgbt-promises-empty/ Archived 2021-04-20 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pascual, Rev Fr Antonio Cecilio T. (2020-09-03). "What 'revgov' implies | Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual". BusinessMirror. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ "State-sponsored hate: The rise of the pro-Duterte bloggers". Rappler. 18 August 2017. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ Hegina, A. J. (2016, April 18). Analyst: PH should fear "loose cannon" Duterte. Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/780101/analyst-ph-should-fear-loose-cannon-duterte Archived 2021-04-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Swaine, Michael [@Dalzell60] (2021-05-03). "Your job is to defend your nation's interests by using diplomacy, not the language of a school boy. This is embarrassing for you and your country" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Escalona, K. A. (2018, July 19). Duterte's war on tongues. New Mandala. https://www.newmandala.org/dutertes-war-tongues/ Archived 2021-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Manlupig, Karlos (2015-11-09). "Duterte Cheers Rebels: 'Mabuhay ang NPA'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2021-08-15. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
- ^ Sison y Canlás, José María (2018-07-28). "The Fate of the People's War". Jacobin (Interview). Interviewed by Denis Rogatyuk. Archived from the original on 2021-07-19. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
- ^ Márquez, Consuelo (2019-04-23). "Pangilinan on Sharon Cuneta's Support for Duterte: Families Are Divided, We Are No Exception". Archived from the original on 2021-04-25. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
- ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (2020-10-23). "Parlade asks: Is Mayor Isko welcoming 'terrorist' CPP-NPA in Manila?". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
- ^ "Philippines Troll Patrol: The woman taking on trolls on their own turf". BBC News. 2020-09-25. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
- ^ Cruz, E. S. (2017, August 16). Story of LABAN. Philippine Star. http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2017/08/16/1729898/story-laban Archived 2021-02-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Nawal, A., & Alconaba, N. (2017, February 25). Sara Duterte fires back: My father understood spirit of Edsa. Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/875179/sara-duterte-fires-back-my-father-understood-spirit-of-edsa Archived 2021-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pamalakaya. (2020, May 31). Anti-terrorism bill intends the people to be a "flock of sheep" —groups. https://angpamalakaya.org/2020/05/31/anti-terrorism-bill-intends-the-people-to-be-a-flock-of-sheep-groups/ Archived 2021-04-21 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Reysio-Cruz, Cathy Cañares Yamsuan, Matthew (2020-02-23). "'It's time for young people to find their own yellow ribbon'". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Heydarian, Richard (2018-09-04). "Neither DDS nor 'dilaw'". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ Terraloza, V. E. (2021, April 20). PNP 'profiling' of community pantry organizers slammed. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/20/pnp-profiling-of-community-pantry-organizers-slammed/ Archived 2021-04-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Del Mundo, R. (2021, April 21). Mutual aid, community pantries bring out the best in Filipinos and the worst in Duterte's inhumane regime. Philippine Revolution Web Central. https://cpp.ph/statements/mutual-aid-community-pantries-bring-out-the-best-in-filipinos-and-the-worst-in-dutertes-inhumane-regime/ Archived 2021-04-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Contreras y P., Antonio (2021-02-04). "The Other Threat to National Security Is Not Coming from the Left". Manila Times. Archived from the original on 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
- ^ Clapano, J. R. (2012, July 14). Groups spearheading black propaganda to smear Binay's image. Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/07/14/827669/groups-spearheading-black-propaganda-smear-binays-image Archived 2021-05-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Cabañes, J. V. A., & Cornelio, J. S. (2017). The rise of trolls in the Philippines (and what we can do about it) Archived 2021-07-14 at the Wayback Machine. In N. Curato (Ed.), A Duterte reader: Critical essays on the early presidency of Rodrigo Duterte (pp. 233–252). Ateneo de Manila University Press.
- ^ Herrera, C. F. (2016, March 18). Drilón, AMLC, Inquirer tagged in "conspiracy". Manila Standard. https://www.manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/202003/drilon-amlc-inquirer-tagged-in-conspiracy-.html Archived 2019-11-08 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Magno, A. (2015, October 26). Smear. Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2015/10/26/1515264/smear Archived 2021-02-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Liu, C. (2021). Virtue hoarders: The Case against the Professional Managerial Class. University of Minnesota.
- ^ "Terrorism respects no one, overseas Filipino groups say". www.pna.gov.ph. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
- ^ "Federal party wants Duterte as chairman". The Manila Times. 18 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ Dalan, Avito. "Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan with Its Pres.Greco B. Belgica". www.pna.gov.ph. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- ^ a b c Bello y Flores, Walden (2019-09-30). "The Global Rise of the Far Right". Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
- ^ Bello y Flores, Walden (2019-10-04). The Global Rise of the Far Right. University of Portsmouth. Event occurs at 47:37. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
- ^ Coronel, Ethan James (2020). "Is the DDS (Diehard Duterte Supporters) the Filipino Equivalent of America's Alt-Right?".