The DDS phenomenon abroad

I was in The Hague, Netherlands, last week to attend an annual training seminar for lawyers accredited to practice before the International Criminal Court (ICC). It was the week when the confirmation of charges hearing would have taken place, except that it had been postponed because the court wanted to first decide the issue of whether former President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial, as requested by his lawyers.

It turns out that many Filipino expatriates had made plans to be in The Hague during the same week. They apparently came to participate in mobilization events either in support of or in protest against the former president. And since they had already secured approved work leaves and booked transportation and hotel accommodations, they proceeded with their trips, despite the hearing postponement.

I and a small group of fellow Filipino lawyers encountered these kababayans in different parts of the city, and virtually all of them are Duterte Diehard Supporters (DDS). They visited and had their pictures taken around the ICC building, congregated in a Filipino restaurant that had a life-size standee of Duterte, and gathered in a park with a photo exhibition of the ex-president and quotes attributed to him. Some of these kababayans asked us for directions on how to reach “Duterte street,” a group chanted “Du-ter-te!” when they crossed our path, and a family wanted to have their pictures taken with us, apparently assuming that we are DDS ourselves.

I have not seen any relevant statistics, but from the optics of news coverage, one gets the impression that many Filipinos working or living abroad are DDS. This begs the question of why Filipinos who are reaping the dividends of life in democratic societies support a leader who was proudly antidemocratic and repressive when he occupied Malacañan Palace? Why do Filipinos who live in First World countries that respect human rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQ rights, support a ruler who committed horrific human rights violations, disrespected women, and denigrated the third sex? Why do Filipinos who now thrive in countries governed by politicians who observe etiquette, converse in diplomatic language, and conduct themselves in a well-mannered demeanor, identify with a leader who was proudly crude and rude?

Why would Filipinos abroad, famous for perfectly assimilating and totally embracing the rules, ethics, morals, and model behavior in well-developed countries, and thriving with success in the process, worship a leader who proudly displays immorality, unethical conduct, and ruthless behavior?

It could be that DDS expats are a minority bloc among Filipinos abroad, but they are more passionate, vocal, and public in their support for the leader of their choice, so they give the impression that they are the bigger bloc of Filipinos living abroad. It could also be that DDS Filipino expats are trapped in online bubble blocs that teem with disinformation supportive of the Dutertes, so their minds are regularly fed with and have been conditioned to believe in anything that’s pro-Duterte and dismiss everything that’s anti-Duterte.

It may also be true, as shared by one Filipino expat, that Filipinos abroad have experienced the personal demonstration of care and concern by Duterte, which they had never felt from any other past or present president. The multiple trips of Vice President Sara Duterte to attend Filipino gatherings abroad lend credence to this rationalization.

It could also be true that Filipino expats, no different from many of their countrymen living in the Philippines, have become impatient for change and are willing to cast their lot with a leader completely different from the old mold of politicians who have been making promises for so long but only manage to bring unending disappointment to the masses. Corollary to this, it could be that Filipino expats are in a rush to attain the benefits of first world status for their families back home, and they see an authoritarian ruler like Duterte as the only leader who can finally bring about real change for the country.

It could further be that Filipino expats blame current politicians for driving them away from the Philippines; hence, they yearn for a dark horse like Duterte. This could be the spurned lover syndrome—a lover who has suffered years of betrayal and disillusionment and is no longer willing to succumb to the same old promises of a cold and inattentive paramour. Instead, she has found a new suitor who showers her with emotion-filled attention despite defying logic and reason.

There’s an abundance of reasons why so many of our countrymen living abroad are DDS, despite the grave sins attributed to the former president. It could be one of these reasons. It could be all of these reasons.

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