CIA, 15 other US intel agencies say Duterte is ‘threat’ to democracy

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte RENE LUMAWAG/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

While the President has attracted several international human rights critics for his campaign to eradicate illegal drugs, this time 16 intelligence agencies in the United States (US) including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) branded him as a ‘threat’ to democracy as well in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region.

In a February 13 Worldwide Threat Assessment report released by US director of national intelligence Daniel Coats, the US Intelligence Community made up of 17 intelligence agencies listed President Rodrigo Roa Duterte among the leaders who are threats to democracy and human rights.

The community noted that democracy and human rights in many SEA countries will “remain fragile” because of “cronyism” and “autocratic tendencies.”

“In the Philippines, President Duterte will continue to wage his signature campaign against drugs, corruption, and crime,” the report read, discussing Duterte’s statements on a revolutionary government and a nationwide martial law.

(Read: Duterte hopes he won’t ‘be compelled’ to declare RevGov)

(Read: Duterte formally asks Congress for one-year Martial Law extension)

(Read: Marcos’ ML different from Duterte’s ML – Malacañan)

“His declaration of martial law in Mindanao, responding to the ISIS-inspired siege of Marawi City, has been extended through the end of 2018,” it added.

The report also cited a Freedom House report which listed the country as one of the 30 governments that used social media to combat criticism of the administration and spread agenda.

“We note that more governments are using propaganda and misinformation in social media to influence foreign and domestic audiences,” it read.

The Worldwide Threat Assessment was designed to know the “threats to US national security” with the help of the 16 agencies who work separately and together.

‘We like to be friends’

In an interview with ANC, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. was quick to comment that this declaration makes it ‘difficult’ to be ‘friendly with the US.’

“We like to be friends with the United States. But with declaration such as this, it is very difficult to be friendly with the United States,” he said in the interview.

Roque then added, “This is something that we’re taking very seriously. It’s coming from the intelligence community. It’s not even coming from the state department. It’s something that the President will take seriously as well.”