Difference between Bongbong and Duterte? Marcos is more engaging with rest of the world, says Diokno

The chief economic manager of the Marcos administration, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, on Friday made a candid comparison between the two chief executives he served consecutively.

During a forum organized by the Makati Business Club, the Finance chief was asked how different was the reception of the international community between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In response, Diokno - who served as Budget chief then Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor during the previous administration - said, “There’s a big contrast between President Duterte and President Bongbong.”

The chief economic manager went on to describe Duterte as “not as engaging as President Bongbong with the world, the rest of the world.”

“For example, he didn’t care much about Europe because Europe was putting pressure on us on human rights…,” Diokno said.

To recall, the European Union had for several times raised concerns of possible human rights violation in the Philippines in relation to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign, which irked the former Philippine leader  and released a series of tirades against the European bloc.

“Compared to Bongbong… Bongbong is more engaging with the rest of the world. He has traveled, how many times? Seven times? Yes, he’s more engaging than President Duterte,” Diokno said.

Since he assumed office in the second half of 2022, Marcos has traveled to Indonesia, Singapore, the United States, Cambodia, Thailand, Belgium, China, and Switzerland.

Next week, the President will go to Japan for a working visit.

Diokno, nonetheless, said, “I’m not saying… he (Marcos) is more effective than Duterte.”

“Duterte has the reputation … who left office and is still very popular. His approval rating was very high for somebody who’s leaving office. That’s the difference between the two,” he said.

Duterte's approval ratings remained high throughout his term, according to a Pulse Asia report. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News