Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte is ‘a psychopath’, says Filipino actress

Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has become notorious for unleashing insults against world leaders, targeting the UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon and US President Barack Obama. But now he is in the firing line after a Filipino actress dubbed him a “psychopath” in a viral online post.

The actress Agot Isidro launched a tirade against Mr Duterte after the volatile leader said he would rather “die of hunger” than accept aid from the US and the EU.

Speaking in Butuan City on Thursday, Mr Duterte said: "If you [the US and EU] think it is high time for you guys to withdraw your assistance, go ahead. We will not beg for it,” ABS-CBN news reports.

"We will survive. I will be the first one to go hungry and I'll be the first one to die of hunger, [Don't worry],” he added.

Following the remarks, 50-year-old Isidro wrote on Facebook: “First of all, no one is trying to fight you. As a matter of fact, you’re the one who’s picking a fight.

“Secondly, the country where you are elected as president by 16 million out of 100-plus million is Third World. You talk as if the Philippines is a superpower. Excuse me, we don’t want to go hungry. If you want, you do it yourself. Leave us out of it. So many people have nothing to eat, and yet you’ll starve us even further.

“Third, I know a psychiatrist. Get yourself checked. You’re not bipolar. You are a psychopath.”

Isidro’s post has since garnered more than 12,300 shares and 46,000 reactions on Facebook and on Sunday it began trending on Twitter.

In an attempt to draw back from what Mr Duterte views as too much dependence on the US, the president promised to dismantle the nation’s 65-year military alliance with America.

The divide in military relations comes as Mr Duterte lashed out against US criticism of his national crackdown on drug crime, which has left more than 3,600 suspects dead since the day he took office on 30 June.

In September, he launched a scathing attack on Mr Obama, telling him to “go to hell” and calling him a “son of a bitch” when it was suggested he would be questioned over the killings.

On Sunday, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abello responded to Isidro’s post saying in a statement: “While she [Isidro] is entitled to her own opinion, it also reveals the kind of attitude that the President is addressing – dependency on foreign aid. He wants the Filipino people to gain true independence, economically, mentally and socially,” Filipino news site Rappler reports .

Despite drawing criticism from the US, the EU, UN and human rights watchdogs over the scale his crack down on drug dealers and criminals, Mr Duterte’s approval ratings among the general public remain high.

Mr Duterte was elected earlier this year on the promise of preventing the Philippines from becoming a “narco-state” and vowed to kill those involved in importing or selling illegal drugs.

A recent opinion poll found 84 per cent of Filipino respondents were satisfied with the president's anti-narcotics campaign, 54 per cent were "very satisfied" and 30 per cent were "somewhat satisfied". Only eight per cent of those polled were dissatisfied and the remaining eight per cent were undecided.

Additional reporting by Associated Press