Policy Forum Pod

President Rodrigo Duterte’s reputation for controversy and his ‘War on Drugs’ that has seen thousands of deaths has drawn international media attention. Seen as an authoritarian strongman leader abroad, Duterte nevertheless maintains high approval ratings at home, and is seen by many Filipinos as a relatable leader. In this episode of The Brief, Edwina Landale talks to award-winning journalist Marites Vitug, author of a new book, Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won Its Maritime Case Against China. They discuss Filipino populism, the integrity of the justice system, and the potential fallout from the South China Sea dispute. Marites Vitug is the editor at large of the social news network Rappler. She is one of the Philippines’ most accomplished journalists, winning awards and public recognition for her reporting. A bestselling author, she has written several books on Philippine current affairs, including her recent book Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won Its Maritime Case Against China. Edwina Landale is the