Duterte’s ‘real power’ emanates from the people – Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte

The real power of President Rodrigo Duterte comes from the people whom he serves, Malacañang said Wednesday after Forbes magazine ranked him as the 69th most powerful person in the world.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has many times acknowledged that the true source of power is the people,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

READ: Duterte among the most powerful in the world – Forbes

In his brief profile, Forbes cited Duterte’s war on crime, which “has already resulted in the killing of thousands of people across the archipelago country.”

But Roque said the President’s brutal war on drugs was for the interest of the Filipino people.

“The anti-drug war, the pursuit of an independent foreign policy, the pro-poor policies and programs of the Duterte administration among others are reflective of the current government’s advancing the welfare of the greatest number of our countrymen,” he said.

As President for almost two years, Roque said Duterte “has faithfully served our people by promoting the interests of the Filipino people and the Filipino nation first.”

“The Presidency, in the mind of PRRD, begins and ends with public trust where real power emanates,” he said.

Duterte won the presidency in 2016 with 16 million votes, 6 million votes over his closest rival, Mar Roxas. /cbb