Duterte curses Time Magazine, denies being a ‘strongman’

Time Magazine’s cover story entitled “The ‘Strongmen Era’ Is Here. Here’s What It Means for You” by Ian Bremmer discussed the similarities of the different country leaders but only chose four to grace the issue’s cover, namely: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the Philippine President. (Photo: Ian Bremmer/Twitter)

After the Time Magazine tagged the Philippine President as one of the ‘strongmen’ rising in this era in politics, he decided to curse the renowned magazine and denied the label.

“T*ng ina itong Time Magazine na ito nilagay ako doon sa mga despot. Hindi naman ako – Diktador ba ako? (This Time Magazine, a son of a b*tch, placed me as in one of the despots. I am not – Am I a dictator? Since when?),” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said in his speech on May 8, Tuesday, during the oath-taking ceremony of military generals and flag officers.

Duterte said that he has not even sent anyone to prison for talking against him.

“Nilagay pa ako doon sa… apat kami na mukhang monster pa pagka-drawing ng mukha (I was even placed… four of [in the cover] looked like monsters in the way we were drawn). Typically the drawing itself was really to fit you as a despot,” the President continued, reacting to Time Magazine’s cover that included an illustration of him, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

(Read: Time Magazine includes Duterte in ‘strongmen’ cover)

Duterte also emphasized the Filipinos’ right freedom of expression.

“I am a worker of government and I serve the people. And if you are not satisfied with what I am trying to do or my work, by all means, you criticize me. And that would really be simply freedom of expression but that is limited to Filipinos,” he said.

The President once again denied that he is not a strongman and that the renowned magazine only published it for sales.

“So that is just my response to this strongman. I’ll never be one. Huwag kayong maniwala d’yan sa Time Magazine. Para lang ‘yan mabili ‘yung ano [magazine] nila (Do not believe Time Magazine. That was only published so their magazine will gain sales),” Duterte added.

On May 4, Duterte already reacted to the Time Magazine article and cover, saying that he was not a strongman and that he has not sent anyone to jail.

Time Magazine’s cover story “The ‘Strongmen Era’ Is Here. Here’s What It Means for You” by Ian Bremmer in its May 14, 2018 issue described Duterte as “a former mayor who talked more like a Mob boss than a President on his promises to wipe out the drug trade with his own brand of justice.”