The Truth About Duterte’s Laws: Between Signature and Substance

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

As the conversation around the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931) heats up again — often misrepresented as a solo accomplishment of former President Rodrigo Duterte — it’s time to look deeper, not just into that one law, but into the broader pattern of how laws under his administration were often contradicted by his very own actions, statements, and policies.

Let’s get one thing clear: democracy does not work by decree. No president, no matter how popular, creates laws alone. The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act was authored and pushed by Senator Bam Aquino in the Senate and Sarah Elago of Kabataan Partylist in the House. Only after both houses ratified the bill did Duterte sign it into law — a ceremonial but necessary act in the democratic process.

Yet we now witness waves of misinformation, especially from certain circles in Davao, proclaiming Duterte as the lone hero behind free college education. This kind of historical revisionism undermines not only the real authors of the law but also the entire legislative process. As Inday Espina-Varona bluntly puts it, "Konting hiya naman."

But this goes beyond just one law. As the founder of Wazzup Pilipinas, I believe in laying out the truth — however inconvenient it may be. So let’s examine the laws Duterte signed during his presidency that appeared, at first glance, to champion human rights, transparency, and good governance — and contrast these with his actual governance and public behavior.

1. RA 11032 – Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018

Purpose: Streamline government processes and cut red tape.

Contradiction: Duterte’s approach leaned heavily on threats and public humiliation of officials rather than structural reform. Despite the law, inefficiencies persisted, and no comprehensive audit of improvements was publicly released.

2. RA 11036 – Mental Health Act of 2018

Purpose: Promote mental health awareness and rights.

Contradiction: Duterte openly mocked mental illness in speeches, once joking that people who see psychiatrists are “crazy,” earning backlash from mental health advocates who felt these remarks betrayed the spirit of the law.

3. RA 11313 – Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law)

Purpose: Protect individuals from gender-based harassment.

Contradiction: Duterte himself was accused of violating this law through misogynistic remarks, rape jokes, and inappropriate public acts — including kissing a woman on stage — all widely condemned by human rights and women’s groups.

4. RA 11479 – Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020

Purpose: Combat terrorism with safeguards for civil liberties.

Contradiction: The law was heavily criticized for enabling red-tagging and suppressing dissent. Activists and journalists were labeled as terrorists without due process, raising alarms locally and globally over human rights abuses.

5. RA 10973 – Granting the PNP Chief Subpoena Powers

Purpose: Strengthen police investigative powers.

Contradiction: This law became a tool for harassment of political opponents and activists, especially amid the brutal war on drugs and the crackdown on perceived communists. Warrantless arrests and abuses increased during this time.

6. RA 10951 – Revised Penal Code Amendments (Including Decriminalizing Libel Fines)

Purpose: Update antiquated penalties, especially on libel.

Contradiction: Despite these amendments, Duterte pursued media entities like ABS-CBN and Rappler, using multiple legal fronts against journalists like Maria Ressa — actions widely seen as politically motivated suppression of press freedom.

7. RA 11223 – Universal Health Care Act

Purpose: Ensure health coverage for all Filipinos.

Contradiction: The pandemic response under Duterte was marred by inefficiencies, opaque vaccine deals, and poor healthcare worker protection. The PhilHealth corruption scandal further eroded public trust in the system the law aimed to strengthen.

8. RA 10931 – Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act

Purpose: Provide free tuition in public universities and colleges.

Contradiction: While not directly violated, critics say the law suffered from poor support and implementation, especially during the pandemic's shift to online learning, where public universities lacked adequate resources.

Conclusion: Signature Does Not Equal Legacy

Yes, Duterte signed all these laws. On paper, they represent progressive reforms. But governance is not measured by signatures — it is measured by consistency and integrity. You cannot sign a Mental Health Act while mocking the mentally ill. You cannot sign a Safe Spaces Act while publicly objectifying women. You cannot promote press freedom while weaponizing libel laws.

Filipinos must stop equating legislative authorship with ceremonial approval. The true champions of these reforms are the lawmakers who crafted, debated, and defended these bills — often under fire, and against resistance. Duterte was part of the process, yes — but he was not the originator of these ideas.

To credit him solely is to erase the work of true public servants and to mislead the next generation about how democracy works.

As Barnaby Lo said, "The truth is that’s how a democracy works — different branches working together for the benefit of the people." Let’s not allow propaganda to distort that truth.

Because no law is to one man’s sole credit.

Wazzup Pilipinas will continue to uphold truth, expose propaganda, and educate the Filipino people on how real progress is made — through collaboration, transparency, and the courage to speak truth to power.

Pink Renaissance: The Inside Story of Why They Won

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The pink universe is euphoric. Euphoric not just because we won—but because they won big. Against all odds. Against history. Against the narrative that they were doomed to forever be in the shadows of celebrity politics, dynasty money, and machinery-driven campaigns.

Bam Aquino, once considered a long shot, soared to 2nd place in the Senate race. Kiko Pangilinan, underestimated and under the radar, clinched 5th. Leila de Lima, released from unjust detention and fighting on two fronts—vindication and reelection—landed back in the Senate through MakaLaya (ML). And Akbayan? A resounding No. 1 among party-lists, leading the progressive front like never before.

These are not "pasang-awa" wins. These are declarations—a loud, collective exhale of a movement that refused to die after 2022. And if you’re looking for a single reason why we won, you’ll be disappointed. Because the truth is: we won because of a perfect storm of courage, strategy, timing, and heart.

The Lingering Flame of 2022

Call it the Pink Resurrection. The spirit of the 2022 campaign—the rallies, the volunteerism, the organic fervor—did not die. It simply hibernated. And in 2025, it awoke with sharper teeth and clearer purpose.

That movement may not have put Leni Robredo in Malacañang, but it built something more permanent: a grassroots political base that knows how to organize, inspire, and mobilize. The same volunteers who painted towns pink in 2022 were back, this time with battle scars—and better tactics.

It wasn’t just a repeat. It was an evolution.

Leni’s Blessing: The Catalyst

When former Vice President Leni Robredo openly endorsed Bam, Kiko, and Leila, she didn’t just offer political support—she reignited the soul of the pink movement. She went to sorties. She endorsed them across all platforms. She stood with them—literally and metaphorically.

And the people responded. Because when Leni speaks, the pink base listens. More importantly, they act. They volunteer. They campaign. They believe again.

Gen Z: The Game-Changers

Enter the Gen Z voter—idealistic, unafraid, and unbothered by old formulas.

This election was their coming-of-age moment. And they voted not for the entertainers, the athletes, or the recycled surnames—but for advocates, reformists, and principled leadership.

They said “No” to Revillame, Bondoc, and Salvador. They rejected Tolentino, Revilla, and Pacquiao—not because they were unfamiliar, but precisely because they were. Gen Z wanted something different. They demanded better. And they delivered it at the ballot box.

The Silent Shifts: Endorsements, Intrigue, and Realpolitik

Some wins are forged in passion. Others are secured in silence.

When the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) backed Bam but not Kiko, the gap between their rankings made sense. But what of Kiko’s strong 5th place finish?

Here’s where things get murky—and fascinating.

A war rages between the Duterte and BBM camps. In their clash, the opposition found unexpected space. Some Duterte-aligned LGUs, seeking balance or hedging bets, quietly included Bam and Kiko in their slates. On the BBM side, when Villar and Imee Marcos fell out of favor, replacements were needed. Guess who filled the vacuum? Bam and Kiko again.

It was political judo—using their opponents’ strength and discord to gain unexpected leverage.

Risa Hontiveros: The Mastermind Behind the Curtain

Lest we forget, there was a brilliant tactician at work.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, the lone opposition victor of 2022, took the reins as campaign manager for Bam and Kiko. Her fingerprints are all over this win. Her strategy, messaging discipline, and quiet persistence led to something monumental—not just a Senate comeback, but a number one finish for Akbayan.

She turned adversity into advantage. She turned memory into momentum. And she gave us a blueprint for the future.

The Road Ahead: Victory or Mirage?

We celebrate tonight. We should. But we must be clear-eyed.

This wasn’t a landslide. It was a miracle of margins, of perfectly executed gambits, and of millions of Filipinos saying “enough.” But 2028 is not guaranteed. Victory there will not come easy.

We need to study this win like a map to buried treasure—identify what worked, what inspired, what shifted, and what stuck. Because next time, the old powers will not be caught off guard. They will regroup, recalibrate, and come for everything.

We must be smarter. Faster. More strategic. And we must not waste this window.

But for Now… Raise That Glass

To Bam—the comeback kid who never gave up.

To Kiko—the quiet warrior who refused to be forgotten.

To Leila—the phoenix who rose through injustice.

To Akbayan—proof that progressive politics can win.

To Leni, Risa, the volunteers, the believers, and every single voter who chose courage over convenience—

CHEERS.

We won. And now, we build.

The Concentration of Power: Examining Governance Dynamics in Davao City

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Recent local elections in Davao City have resulted in a notable political development: multiple members of the Duterte family have secured key positions across the city's governance structure. This electoral outcome raises important questions about power distribution and democratic checks and balances in one of the Philippines' major urban centers.

Rodrigo Duterte - ran for Mayor

Sebastian "Baste" Duterte - ran for Vice Mayor

Paolo Duterte - ran for 1st District representative

Omar Duterte - ran for 2nd District representative

Rodrigo Duterte II - ran for Councilor

A Family's Political Footprint

The recent elections saw Duterte family members winning positions including mayor, vice mayor, and district representatives. This concentration of leadership roles within a single family represents a significant consolidation of political power in Davao's municipal government.

Political analysts note that while family political dynasties are not uncommon in Philippine politics, the breadth of positions now held simultaneously by members of the same family in Davao presents a distinct governance scenario.

The Democratic Balance Question

Democratic systems typically rely on the separation of powers and institutional checks and balances to ensure accountability. When multiple key positions fall under the influence of a single family or political group, traditional oversight mechanisms may face challenges.

"Political diversity in local government often creates natural accountability systems," explains Dr. Maria Santos, a political science professor from the University of the Philippines. "When various positions are held by individuals with different perspectives and constituencies, it creates an environment where decisions require greater consensus and scrutiny."

Historical Context of Davao Governance

Davao City has long been associated with the Duterte family's political influence. The family has maintained a significant presence in local politics for decades, with Rodrigo Duterte himself having served as mayor for seven terms before becoming President of the Philippines in 2016.

Supporters point to development projects and the city's reputation for order during this period, while critics have raised concerns about governance style and the consolidation of authority.

Looking Forward: Governance Implications

The concentration of elected positions within one family raises several governance considerations:

Decision-making dynamics: With family members in multiple leadership roles, how will dissenting views be represented in policy discussions?

Institutional independence: Will city departments and agencies maintain operational autonomy from centralized family influence?

Citizen representation: How will diverse community interests be balanced when leadership shares family connections?

The Broader Philippine Context

This situation reflects broader patterns in Philippine politics, where family political dynasties have been a persistent feature of the democratic landscape. The Philippine Constitution contains anti-dynasty provisions, but implementing legislation has faced challenges.

Citizen Perspectives

Davao residents hold varying views on this political development. Some express confidence in continued stability and development under familiar leadership, while others voice concerns about concentrated authority and democratic representation.

"What matters ultimately is whether the leadership, regardless of family ties, can deliver effective governance and public services that benefit all citizens," notes civic engagement advocate Juan Reyes.

As Davao moves forward under its newly elected leadership, the effectiveness of governance, the responsiveness to diverse community needs, and the maintenance of democratic principles will be closely observed by citizens, civil society, and political analysts alike.