Differences between Trump and Duterte*

*These are based on my own personal observations and conclusions from reading news and other information I can from local and international point of view. They may be similar in some ways, but I think Donald Trump is still so much better in so many ways than Rodrigo Duterte.

1. Trump prioritizes Americans, Duterte don't prioritize Filipinos. This can be seen especially on Trump's policies against illegal immigrants and his focus on giving jobs to Americans, trying his best to bring back jobs to America from other countries especially China. On the other hand, Duterte allowed illegal Chinese workers in the Philippines when in fact there are many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who seek jobs overseas because they can't find and get good paying jobs in their own country. The salaries of these Chinese workers are even way higher than the average Filipino worker even if they are doing the same job. A total of 3.12 million Chinese citizens entered the Philippines from January 2016 to May 2018, according to the Bureau of Immigration.

2. USA economy gets better under Trump (even my husband like him so much because of that), while Duterte blames and find excuses on the inflation crisis in the Philippines. Prices of basic commodities were higher and peso purchasing power declines even as economy booms. Many are unemployed and even those who are employed can barely get by. It was even dubbed as 'Duterte's jobless economic boom'

3. Donald Trump don't kill American citizens while, Rodrigo Duterte is well known for his Extrajudicial Killings (EJK's) related to his supposedly War on Drugs (but drug lords are spared), mostly killing poor and young Filipino citizens. In addition, even if we also compare their 'tough talks', Duterte's rape jokes, personal insults, curses, and violence (especially to those people who don't deserve it even a bit) are worse. His words and actions towards women is worse too. Most of the time, he don't apologize or if he does (rarely) you can feel and see his insincerity because he will do these things again the next chance he gets.

4. The way they both handle Chinese issues (government and private companies). Trump takes on China, attacked China and its companies with tariffs and do in all his might to stop China taking advantage of America. Even though the Philippines is not a global power like USA, still, even when we compare how other small countries like Vietnam and Taiwan speak up against China's bullying is still way better than how Duterte's administration does. He always sided with China even when they sank the boats of Filipino fishermen. He did not push the arbitration case we won against China. He is even saying he is Chinese and that if China wants, they can make the Philippines their province. His spokesperson and loyalists always say he is just joking but even as a joke it is disappointing and treacherous. He is also leading the Philippines to a Chinese debt trap. He is selling the country's sovereignty for Chinese funding, when in fact Japan and EU offered less interest with reasonable conditions unlike China.

5. The way they handle their political enemies/oppositions. Trump defends himself (mostly through Twitter) without jailing or threatening to imprison or kill those who oppose him. Duterte on the other hand, enjoys jailing or trying to imprison anyone who oppose him like Senator Laila de lima (who is still in prison now for more than two years, considered by Amnesty International as arbitrary detention) and Senator Antonio Trillanes. Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was also ousted after clashing with him. Recently, after saying that the Philippine constitution can be used as just a mere ‘toilet paper’, he gave a threat that he will jail anyone who tries to impeach him.


Suggested Readings:
Duterte does not favor deporting illegal Chinese worker
10 Best Things Trump has done in 2018
Never mind his critics, Trump is getting the job done
Shock: Even Trump critics admit he's been winning on Foreign Policy
Five things even Trump critics can give him credit for this Christmas
Trump defies doubters with surging economy
American's feel good about economy and give Trump credit-CBS News poll
How good is the Trump economy, really?
Duterte shaken by inflation storm
Inflation, GDP, and Duterte
Duterte's Luster Dulls as Rice Price Soar in the Philippines
Inflation in the Philippines a faultline for Duterte's 'Build, Build, Build' ambition
Philippine Politics under Duterte: A Midterm Assessment 
Labor group to Duterte: Hike wages amid shrinking purchasing power
Trump takes action on chinese imports
Trump's china policy is a triump
Trump's trade war targets Chinese students at elite U.S. schools
Trump: We can't let China take advantage of our country anymore 
Trump to CNBC: China is going to make a deal because 'they're going to have to'
China had no good option in retaliating against Trump's Huawei ban
Duterte and China
Duterte accused of 'FEAR MONGERING' over claims China could declare war
Rodrigo Duterte: "I am Chinese"
Duterte threatens to jail critic
Filipinos burn Chinese flags in protest against Duterte's 'weak' response to South China Sea sinking
The Philippines is beginning to pay the price for Duterte's South China Sea flip-flops
After snuggling up to China, Duterte talks about 'suicide missions' to protect island
Duterte defends China Infrastructure loans
Trump defends tweets, says he 'somewhat' prides himself on his writing
Duterte a 'puppet' of Beijing, says imprisoned Philippine lawmaker
Living in fear, Duterte's Chief critic speaks out from Philippine jail
The silencing of Leila de Lima-- Duterte's "first political prisoner"
Duterte orders arrest of Philippine senator, one of his top critics
Duterte orders Trillanes arrest
Duterte warns opponent Trillanes
In the Philippines, Duterte orders arrest of prominent critic
Lawyers alarmed by Duterte's move to jail Trillanes
This Philippine senator won't come out of his office for fear of arrest of Duterte's forces
Philippine court rejects Duterte bid to have critic arrested
Duterte critic arrested as 'darkness and evil' prevail in Philippines
Duterte revoked amnesty of chief critic, orders arrest of Trillanes
Duterte to Trillanes: I will have you jailed
Second Philippine senator who defied Duterte, arrested
Philippine President Duterte has ordered the arrest of a chief political opponent
Philippine chief justice ousted after criticizing Duterte 
The messy fight between Duterte and his chief justice
Philippine top judge, Duterte critic ousted by colleagues
She was the enemy of Philippine President Duterte, and her fellow judges just sacked her
Duterte to Sereno: I am now your enemy, I will see to it that you are removed from the Supreme Court
Philippines' ousted Supreme Court chief lambastes Duterte
Philippines' top judge ousted after clashing with President Duterte
Philippine's top judge took on Duterte. Now, she's out.
Philippine chief justice, Duterte's critic, removed
Impeach me, I'll jail you- Philippines' Duterte dares foes to test him
Philippines: Duterte threatens to lock up critics calling for his impeachment
Duterte on impeachment proponents: I'll jail them all
Duterte a 'dictator, coward' for threatening to jail impeachment petitioners- de Lima
'I dare you': Duterte dares critics to file impeachment, threatens to imprison them
Duterte comment likening Constitution to 'toilet paper' troubles Robredo
Diokno hits Duterte for likening Constitution to toilet paper
Constitution as 'toilet paper' is just another Duterte 'metaphor'- Palace