“The true source of power is the people,” Palace says on Forbes’ inclusion of Duterte in list of world’s most powerful men

(Eagle News) — “The true source of power is the people.”

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque had this to say when asked to comment on the inclusion of President Rodrigo Duterte in Forbes’ list of most powerful people in the world.

According to Roque, that phrase has been cited by Duterte himself many times.

“The presidency, in the mind of PRRD (Duterte), begins and ends with public trust where real power emanates,” Roque said, noting that the President has been promoting the interests of the Filipino first in the two years he has been president.

He said the administration’s anti-poor programs and the drug war, among others, were proof of this.

In including Duterte in the list, Forbes cited what it said was Duterte’s “raw and vulgar” language and his Duterte’s war on drugs.

Earlier, Duterte was also cited by Time as one of the world’s “strongmen,” a label Duterte himself took offense at.