Duterte faces tricky challenges in new role

Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte talks to reporters in Davao city in southern Philippines, May 9, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

DAVAO CITY mayor Rodrigo Duterte is poised to become the new president of the Philippines. Beijing Times commented on Thursday:

Winning the Philippine presidential election will be just the beginning of Duterte's new political adventure. He has to deliver on his promises to voters while dealing with a slew of tricky challenges at home and abroad left by outgoing President Benigno Aquino III.

This is not going to be easy. Often compared to the pugnacious US presidential candidate Donald Trump, Duterte did manage to persuade many Philippine voters, who are desperate for "a change", to believe that he is the long-awaited game-changer.

It would be unfair to blame the current administration alone for the severe corruption, high crime rate, and widening income gap, which have long existed in the country. But under Aquino's six-year stewardship, the situation has become worse.

During his two-decade term as the mayor of Davao, Duterte has succeeded in improving local security but not people's livelihoods. More important, leading and managing the whole country will be totally different from running the city, especially for the new president who lacks political resources in the capital.

That said, to significantly reduce corruption he will have to confront certain political elites, plutocrats, and oligarchs in Manila. But implementing new policies might be difficult due to his lack of support in the Congress.

As for his diplomatic pledges, it remains unclear whether Duterte will keep accommodating Washington to sustain the US-Philippines military alliance, or pursue peaceful regional cooperation. However, he said during his presidential campaign he is unlikely to break with Washington in the short term.

As part of his campaign, Duterte's previous comments on the South China Sea issue have been varied. It is time for him to contemplate proper measures to address the South China Sea disputes between China and his country, and wake up to the fact that Beijing is always open to negotiations but will not give up its lawful territorial claims.