"Diehard Duterte Supporters" (DDS) is a label popularly associated with, and also adopted by, the supporters of the 16th president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, whom they view as a necessary strongman. The term was popularized during the 2016 presidential election and has since been used to refer to the most "diehard" among Duterte's loyalists. The term is also commonly used by his opposition to describe people they allege to be engaging in internet trolling, fake news, cult of personality promotion, and disruptive behavior online to defend Duterte. The term DDS has also been used to refer to supporters of other members of the Duterte family, particularly Sara Duterte and her bid for presidency in 2028.
Its initialism, DDS, was taken directly from the Davao Death Squad, a death squad allegedly founded by Rodrigo Duterte, that existed in Davao City during his tenure as mayor.
Ideology As their self-appellation suggests, the DDS are identified by their unwavering loyalty to Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Sara Duterte, rather than alignment to any particular political-economic ideology. The DDS mirror Duterte's policy stances and shifts, even when such shifts contradict his self-identification as a socialist and membership in a democratic socialist party, PDP–Laban. Accordingly, observers have described the DDS as a right-wing populist or even far-right phenomenon the existence of which preserves the status quo. Such an assertion has been demonstrated by the expansion in recent years of the historical and religiously informed cultural hostility towards left-wing politics in the country,Palatino, R. (2017, May 2). Is the Philippines' Duterte really a leftist? The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2017/05/is-the-philippines-duterte-really-a-leftist/ Lalu, G. P. (2021, January 19). UP students poke fun at DND's claims campuses are communist recruitment centers. Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1385865/up-students-poke-fun-at-dnds-claims-that-campuses-are-communist-recruitment-grounds which has been previously reserved for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) but during Duterte's presidency began to include left-wing national-democratic, social-democratic and social-liberal organizations such as the Makabayan, Akbayan and Liberal parties, respectively.
In common with Duterte's original support base outside Manila,Lorenzana, L. M. C. (2021, February 10). Duterte's time running out—monumental failures. Manila Times. https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/02/10/opinion/columnists/dutertes-time-running-out-monumental-failures/838741/ the DDS had been enthusiastic about the subsequently derailed transition to a federal form of government through constitutional reform. Some within the DDS may have also stood behind socially progressive causes such as the redefinition of civil marriage, which Duterte had also supported but has since backtracked on.Reginio, M. K. (n.d.). Group says Duterte's LGBT promises "empty". Kodao Productions. https://kodao.org/group-says-dutertes-lgbt-promises-empty/ The DDS have also mirrored calls made by some core supporters for the installation of a revolutionary government with Duterte as leader. Such calls, however, have been motivated less by a willingness to pursue systemic transformation than by a desire for greater participation in the status quo.
Behavior
The DDS are distinguished by their uninhibited use of rabid and vitriolic speech, which mirrors Duterte's own.Hegina, A. J. (2016, April 18). Analyst: PH should fear "loose cannon" Duterte. Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/780101/analyst-ph-should-fear-loose-cannon-duterte Escalona, K. A. (2018, July 19). Duterte's war on tongues. New Mandala. https://www.newmandala.org/dutertes-war-tongues/ They respond to the slightest criticism of Duterte with accusations of bias, drug addict, shilling, wokescolding, CPP membership or sympathizing with the New People's Army (NPA), notwithstanding Duterte's own tactical dealings with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) during his mayorship of Davao. The DDS usually engage in online bullying and harassment against all activists, as well as the Otso Diretso electoral alliance, Vice President Leni Robredo, and even fellow Dutertists suspected of disloyalty, often by issuing threats or tagging them implicitly for punishment. Dilawan and pulahanPamalakaya. (2020, May 31). Anti-terrorism bill intends the people to be a "flock of sheep" —groups. https://angpamalakaya.org/2020/05/31/anti-terrorism-bill-intends-the-people-to-be-a-flock-of-sheep-groups/ are two of the slurs most frequently employed to shut down or gaslight those marked for harassment. The DDS have also participated in amplified smear campaigns directed against organizers of and contributors to COVID-19 mutual-aid efforts.Terraloza, V. E. (2021, April 20). PNP 'profiling' of community pantry organizers slammed. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/20/pnp-profiling-of-community-pantry-organizers-slammed/ Del Mundo, R. (2021, April 21). Mutual aid, community pantries bring out the best in Filipinos and the worst in Duterte's inhumane regime. Philippine Revolution Web Central. https://cpp.ph/statements/mutual-aid-community-pantries-bring-out-the-best-in-filipinos-and-the-worst-in-dutertes-inhumane-regime/ It is for these reasons that the DDS are collectively considered even by otherwise sympathetic analysts as a successful hate group. In midst of the arrest of Duterte done by the International Criminal Court, DDS flooded social media platforms with posts and comments that show loyalty and gratitude to Duterte as well as calling his critics "drug addict."
International Criminal Court (ICC) Judge Iulia Motoc, presiding over the case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, has been targeted by his supporters online. Following Duterte's initial hearing on March 14, 2025, these supporters inundated Motoc's LinkedIn account with comments demanding his release and return to the Philippines. Additionally, misinformation circulated, falsely linking Motoc to the Marcos family through misidentified photographs. Critics also questioned her suitability based on her use of French during proceedings, despite her proficiency in multiple languages. Legal experts warn that such actions could negatively impact Duterte's case, as attempts to harass or manipulate court officials may be considered offenses against the administration of justice under Article 70 of the Rome Statute.
Long before the DDS' ascent to national prominence,Clapano, J. R. (2012, July 14). Groups spearheading black propaganda to smear Binay's image. Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/07/14/827669/groups-spearheading-black-propaganda-smear-binays-image Cabañes, J. V. A., & Cornelio, J. S. (2017). The rise of trolls in the Philippines (and what we can do about it) . In N. Curato (Ed.), A Duterte reader: Critical essays on the early presidency of Rodrigo Duterte (pp. 233–252). Ateneo de Manila University Press. however, certain PMC actors themselves had allegedly orchestrated smear campaigns, known locally as "black propaganda", through SMS and other means against disfavored politicians and unapproved-of election candidates.Herrera, C. F. (2016, March 18). Drilón, AMLC, Inquirer tagged in "conspiracy". Manila Standard. https://www.manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/202003/drilon-amlc-inquirer-tagged-in-conspiracy-.html Magno, A. (2015, October 26). Smear. Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2015/10/26/1515264/smear Such derision has been described as a desire on the part of members of the PMC to "want to humiliate their adversaries by attributing to them a desperate lack of intelligence, empathy, and virtue".Liu, C. (2021). Virtue hoarders: The Case against the Professional Managerial Class. University of Minnesota.
Organizational representation
Several organizations and social-media communities bear the DDS initialism as a way of signifying unapologetic allegiance to the Duterte family. Some of these are the Duterte Youth, Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP). These organizations claim to represent sectors of Philippine society marginalized by those who had taken power through the first EDSA Revolution and betrayed by those behind the second.Magsalin, S. (2020, March 31). Towards an anarchism in the Philippine archipelago. Southeast Asian Anarchist Library. https://sea.theanarchistlibrary.org/library/simoun-magsalin-towards-an-anarchism-in-the-philippine-archipelago-en
Global context The DDS is part of an ascendant global far right; indeed, members find affinity with right-wing populist movements across the globe and their respective leaders.Fraser, N. (2017, January 2). The end of progressive neoliberalism. Dissent. https://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/progressive-neoliberalism-reactionary-populism-nancy-fraser In the academic and popular discourse, parallels had been drawn between the DDS and other strongman populist movements such as Erdoğanism in Turkey, Bolsonarism in Brazil and Trumpism in the United States, among many others, notwithstanding the uniqueness of the conditions that give rise to and, in turn, motivate each of them. For instance, it has been demonstrated that popular support for Duterte has been driven to a significant extent by expatriate workers resentful of having to support themselves and their families from abroad, a motivating factor only partially shared by workers in core countries. In addition, far-right beliefs are prominent in Filipino culture.
Notable politicians, figures, and supporters Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator of the Philippines since 2022 Bong Go, Senator of the Philippines since 2019 Ronald dela Rosa, Senator of the Philippines since 2019 Robin Padilla, Senator of the Philippines since 2022 Rodante Marcoleta, Senator of the Philippines since 2025 Imee Marcos, Senator of the Philippines since 2019 Khymer Adan Olaso, Mayor of Zamboanga City since 2025 Apollo Quiboloy, detained founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Alfonso Cusi, 14th Secretary of Energy Butch Belgica, politician, pastor and former convicted criminal Greco Belgica, former chairman of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission in 2021 Martin Diño, activist, politician, government official Jimmy Bondoc, musician, lawyer and former government official Rowena Guanzon, former COMELEC commissioner Jayvee Hinlo, former commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission in 2022 Raul Lambino, lawyer Richard Mata, pediatrician Aiko Melendez, actress and politician Jeryll Harold Respicio, Vice Mayor of Reina Mercedes, Isabela since 2025 Phillip Salvador, actor Vic Rodriguez, lawyer and former Executive Secretary under the Presidency of Bongbong Marcos from June to September 2022 Mike Defensor, representative for Anakalusugan from 2019 to 2022 Bernadette Herrera, former representative for Bagong Henerasyon Trixie Cruz-Angeles, lawyer, vlogger and former Press Secretary under the Presidency of Bongbong Marcos from June 2022 to October 2022 Kat de Castro, journalist and former television personality Vivian Velez, actress Cesar Montano, actor Mocha Uson, political blogger Byron Cristobal, vlogger Franco Mabanta, political strategist and founder of Peanut Gallery Media Network RJ Nieto, blogger and opinion columnist Sass Rogando Sasot, blogger Ferdinand Topacio, lawyer Darryl Yap, film director, screenwriter and producer Martin Andanar, television news personality, news anchor, radio commentator Teodoro Locsin Jr., politician and diplomat Lorraine Badoy-Partosa, physician and government official Jeffrey Celiz, activist Jay Sonza, blogger and former newscaster Harry Roque, lawyer and Presidential spokesperson from 2017 to 2018 and again from 2020 to 2021