SASS ROGANDO SASOT
EUROPEANS’ understanding of President Rodrigo Duterte is informed by their own political history dotted with tragic and traumatic stories of ultra-nationalism and leaders with the same personality type and social support as Duterte. They fear Duterte because he reminds them of a past they would like to prevent from re-emerging in their countries. Any successful communication strategy that would counter Duterte’s monstrous image in Europe has to keep that in mind.