ABSTRACT The arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte under an International Criminal Court warrant and his subsequent detention appear to have amplified his popular appeal among Filipino publics. This article unpacks Duterte's enduring popularity by analysing how Filipino cultural values reinforce populist and nationalist narratives, particularly during moments of political crisis. We focus on how utang na loob (debt of gratitude) has been mobilised to defend Duterte and critique the Marcos administration. Our findings suggest that Duterte's supposed policy legacy and his performative political will forged a social contract many Filipinos view as having delivered tangible benefits. Within the Filipino moral economy of reciprocity, such gains engender expectations of loyalty. The Philippine example illustrates how morally charged populist and nationalist discourses can frame political allegiances that resist scrutiny and international accountability.
Talamayan et al. (Tue,) studied this question.