Beyond the DDS label

ONE of the most persistent mistakes made by both critics and supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte is the assumption that the so-called Duterte base is a single, coherent political bloc. The label “DDS” has become a convenient shorthand, but convenience often comes at the expense of understanding. It allows people to caricature millions of Filipinos as if they are motivated by the same beliefs, driven by the same emotions and persuaded by the same arguments. The reality is f