The deeper Duterte gets into his presidency the more hypocrisy and selective enforcement of his principles become evident. He is a driven man that does love his country, and clearly wants what is best. But his stubbornness and inconsistency is a weakness that could undermine his credibility and result in a disastrous presidency.
Protect the Sovereignty of the Philippines
Duterte has been very vocal on pushing foreign influence out from the Philippines. He has demanded that global leaders respect the country’s sovereignty and stay out of their domestic issues. The inhumane approach to the war on drugs being front and centre of the criticism directed at Duterte.
His recent action to set aside the ruling from the International Arbitration Tribunal over the disputed South China Sea islands hand part of the Philippines to China on a silver platter. This is hardly the action of a man out to protect the sovereignty of his country.
Duterte is very clearly anti-America. This is a personal agenda, which he is turning into national policy under the guise of sovereignty. Selective enforcement of sovereignty is insulting to the people of the Philippines.
The America is Evil rants have featured in many press conferences since Duterte took office. Whenever he is asked a question that he doesn’t like (usually about human rights) he is quick to point out all the evil deeds of the USA going back over 100 years. This is a strange and at times comical response to a question about his own domestic foreign policy.
He has dared the US to withdraw aid from the country, he has avoided meetings with President Obama, and is now looking to push out the US military that have assisted training Filipino soldiers for decades. All without reasonable discussions with the other party to address whatever concerns he has.
These are the actions of a man with a big chip on his shoulder. He is using his country to settle a personal score, and is placing his countrymen at risk by doing so.
Ruthless Action Against Lawbreakers
The widely reported war on drugs has been ruthless and inhumane. There is no sign that an end is in sight and Duterte has not wavered in his resolve. This war has set the country down a long and painful path to which there is no likely end, and no plan B to resolve the problems.
At the heart of this flawed approach is that many police have been involved in the drug trade for years. This is a widely known fact. With corruption so deeply enshrined in the system it is nonsensical to put the same group in charge of such a massive offensive with no accountability for the loss of human life.
The poor and defenceless are being 
exterminated by a police force that in many cases are the architects of the drug problem itself.
On the rare occasion that vigilante killers have been captured there has been instances that they are police. This should come as a surprise to no one and points to a flawed approach to this problem.
Low level street users have had this vicious initiative unleashed against them. But what is happening at the other end of town? So far we have seen accused drug lords, plundering former presidents, locked up actors who are staunch supporters of the president all pardoned of their crimes and released.
Then we have the former dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. A source of misery and suffering to millions of Filipinos, and a major contributor to the current economic plight of the country. Duterte saw it fit to honour him and bury him in a heroes cemetery. All done in secret behind the back of his countrymen.
Did Anything Really Change?
Duterte won his way to office on a tidal wave of support to change what is a broken system. Voters were frustrated with decades of neglect and inaction from previous administrations. Duterte has proven to be a man of action, but his actions only reinforce the faults of past administrations.
His inconsistent enforcement of his principles make for a dishonest and unpredictable president. His inability to look past his own opinions and discuss issues on merit places the country at a disadvantage. This is just more of the same for the country, but with more drastic consequences if he gets it wrong. This is only the beginning.
… James is the author of The Expat Angle. Follow him on Twitter @theexpatangle