Philippines, President Duterte retires and gives way to his daughter

BANGKOK – With a surprise gesture from those who made him famous in his country and abroad, the current president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte announced his retirement from politics, giving up running for the post of vice president in 2022, contrary to what he said in August.

Former lawyer and former mayor of the city of Davao who went down in history as the “executioner” for killing thousands of real and alleged drug dealers, Duterte made the announcement to journalists after being accompanied by his party mate PDP-Laban, the faithful senator Christopher “Bong” Go, in the office where registration for the candidacy was expected.