MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has been listed by Forbes magazine as one of the World’s 75 Most Powerful People in 2018.
Duterte landed on the 69th spot of the Forbes’ list of men and women who “make the world turn”.
Forbes said its annual ranking of The World’s Most Powerful People “identifies one person out of every 100 million, whose actions mean the most”.
“This year’s list highlights the consolidation of power in the hands of an elite few,” Forbes’ contributor David M. Ewalt wrote.
Forbes also cited Duterte’s war on drugs which, as he promised, will continue along with his campaign against graft and corruption and criminality until the last day of his term.
Government’s data showed that 72,818 drug suspects have been arrested in 57,554 anti-drug operations, while over 1.2 million drug personalities have surrendered since the war on drugs was launched in 2016.
The Philippine National Police said over 4,000 drug suspects and not 12,000 as claimed by Human Rights Watch have been killed in legitimate police operations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping emerged for the first time as the world’s most powerful person, dislodging Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had held the top post for four years in a row.
United States President Donald Trump took the third place, followed by Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is also the 2018 most powerful woman.
In response, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte “has many times acknowledged that the true source of power is the people”.
“As Chief Executive for almost two years, he has faithfully served our people by promoting the interests of the Filipino people and the Filipino nation first,” Roque said.
Roque said the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, the pursuit of an independent foreign policy, pro-poor policies, and programs “are reflective of the current government’s advancing the welfare of the greatest number of our countrymen”.
“The Presidency, in the mind of PRRD, begins and ends with public trust, where real power emanates,” he added.
Duterte, along with Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was also featured by Time Magazine at the cover photo and top story of its May 14, 2018 edition with a title: “Rise of the Strongman”.
The popular Filipino leader, however, slammed Time Magazine for naming him a strongman.
In an oath-taking ceremony for newly promoted generals and flag officers on Tuesday night at the Malacanang Palace, Duterte said he is not a dictator and has never sent anybody to prison “for just talking against me”. (PNA)
