A report published by the United States intelligence community last week listed the administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte as a threat to human rights and democracy in Southeast Asia.
“In the Philippines, President (Rodrigo) Duterte will continue to wage his signature campaign against drugs, corruption, and crime,” the report reads.
“Duterte has suggested he could suspend the constitution, declare a ‘revolutionary government,'” the report continued, referring to Duterte’s repeated threats to abolish congress and centralize power amid what he believes are attempts to “destabilize” his administration.
The report also cited the president’s toying with the idea of imposing nationwide martial law. His declaration of martial law in Mindanao, responding to the ISIS-inspired siege of Marawi City, has been extended through the end of 2018.
Although not cited in the report, Duterte has also been accused of strong-arm tactics on journalists critical of his administration.
The US intelligence community included other threats to democracy and human rights in Southeast Asia like the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and Thailand’s new constitution, which gives the military more power in the next elections.
The report was published by the US’ Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the office that heads its civilian and military intelligence agencies including the Central Intelligence Agency.
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