Duterte’s missed mandate

Strongman vibes: A trained lawyer, Duterte is deliberate, determined and deadly, knowing how to manipulate the law to his advantage.

ON Monday, Feb 10, Philippine Solicitor-General Jose Calida filed a “quo warranto” * petition against ABS-CBN, the republic’s most popular television station (with over 72.3 million weekly viewers and a 47% viewership share) as well as a perceived critic of President Rodrigo Duterte – in effect, attempting to force it off air.

The next day, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr signed a notice terminating the republic’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States.