The year 2020 has been a challenging year for everybody mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for the man who has the lives of at least 110 million other Filipinos in the palm of his hands.

President Duterte stayed on top of the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, even holding weekly public addresses since the start of the lockdown in March. But aside from handling the pandemic, what else did the 75-year-old president do this year?

Virtual summits

President Duterte's overseas commitments for this year were all canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The President was invited to a special Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United States (ASEAN-US) Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada in March. He was also slated to participate in the 36th and 37th ASEAN Summit in Vietnam which was, later on, held virtually.

During the virtual ASEAN Summit in November, Duterte highlighted the need for ASEAN member-states and external partners to work together to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and collectively rise up from its economic setback.

For the first time since becoming president, Duterte, even though virtually, attended the 75th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September. He earned praises for asserting the Philippines' rights over the disputed South China Sea even though Beijing continues to reject the 2016 Arbitral Ruling.

The President likewise urged the international community not to leave small countries behind on the road to recovery from the pandemic.

Campaign vs. drugs, corruption

While most events were held virtually as a measure against COVID-19, President Duterte personally witnessed the incineration of about P7.51-billion worth of illegal drugs in Trece Martires, Cavite this month--his first public engagement after months of lockdown.

As his war on drugs, President Duterte's war against corruption in government continued this year. In October, he ordered the Department of Justice to look into the corruption in the entire government following the reports that P15 billion were pocketed by PhilHealth executives in fraud schemes.

The President likewise noted the supposed corruption activities in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Since then, Duterte used his public addresses at least thrice to read the names of government officials involved in corruption.

#NasaanAngPangulo?

The Philippines was also hit by natural calamities. The year opened with the Philippines facing the threat of the eruption of Taal Volcano.

The Philippines is no stranger to storms but in the last quarter of 2020, at least eight typhoons brought heavy rains and caused floods in different parts of the country from Luzon to Mindanao.

On both occasions, the three words #NasaanAngPangulo? (Where is the President?) persistently trended online as Filipino netizens wondered what was President Duterte doing during the calamity. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque assured the public that Duterte was always on top of things despite having a lot on his plate.

In one of his public addresses in November, Duterte was visibly irritated by the trending topic and the implication that he was not doing his job during the crisis. In a television address to the nation, he asked critics if he should greet the typhoon personally so they would know that he is doing something.

Appointments

President Duterte made a special video message to defend his controversial decision to promote Metro Manila's top cop General Debold Sinas as the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Sinas was facing charges for breaking quarantine protocols when they held a mañanita for his birthday. Duterte said he saw nothing wrong with what happened and if there was, Sinas was already pardoned.

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The President also justified his appointment of former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Dante Gierran as the new PhilHealth president in September, saying the latter is qualified because he is an accountant.

In an effort to enhance the government's efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, President Duterte in April brought back Harry Roque to be his spokesman and that of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, taking over the roles of Duterte's counsel Salvador Panelo and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.

Terrorism

In July this year, President Duterte signed the controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill into law as a move to prevent the country from experiencing another "unimaginable grief and horror." Many people were concerned about the law in fear that simple protesting or demonstration may lead them to be branded as terrorists. Malacañang repeatedly denied such claims.

Duterte had certified the measure as urgent despite the opposition of the public due to what the saw as unconstitutional provisions that are also prone to abuse. Some of the issues raised by the public were the 14-day pre-trial detention that can be extended for another 10 days and the Anti-Terrorism Council being allowed to order an arrest of a suspected terrorist.

Red-tagging

Last month, President Duterte told law enforcers to stop red-tagging any individual without evidence and reminded them to just do their job quietly and according to the law.

This came after netizens called out Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr., spokesman for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), for warning both actress Liza Soberano and former Miss Universe Catriona Gray about involving themselves with progressive groups.

However, Duterte himself slammed university students who threatened to hold strikes and not comply with their academic requirements over the government's supposed failure to address the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent typhoons. He also pointed out that there is communist recruitment happening in universities as they continue to go against the government.

The President likewise identified the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives as a front of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Duterte said this month that he is no longer interested in talking peace with the CPP. In December last year, the President ordered Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to return to the Netherlands and talk to CPP founder Joma Sison as a last attempt at a peace deal with the communists. He first scrapped the formal talks with communist rebels in November 2017 for their supposed insincerity in the negotiations.

VFA abrogation

In February this year, President Duterte ordered the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) after the US revoked the visa of his close ally Senator Ronald Dela Rosa and after the ban on the entry of officials supposedly behind the arrest and detention of Senator Leila de Lima.

In June, President Duterte suspended the termination of the VFA due to "political and other developments in the region." Last month, the government suspended the abrogation anew but negotiations continue.

This month, Duterte threatened the US government that he will proceed with terminating the VFA if they will not be able to provide the Philippines with 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

ABS-CBN closure

In February, President Duterte accepted the apology of ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak for the shortcomings of the network during the 2016 presidential elections when the company was in danger of losing its franchise.

President Duterte had earlier voiced his disappointment with ABS-CBN for the network's failure to air his political ads during the campaign for the presidency in 2016. Duterte had threatened to stop ABS-CBN's franchise renewal but denied his involvement in the move to close down ABS-CBN, particularly in the move of Solicitor General Jose Calida to file a quo warranto petition against the network in February.

The network ceased airing over free TV in May and Congress eventually rejected ABS-CBN's franchise renewal application in July.

Manila Bay reclamation

In January, President Duterte said he will not approve any proposed reclamation project in Manila Bay, saying he will be choking Manila if he allows any of the projects to continue.

Duterte said those interested should just wait for the next administration as his successor may have a different view about it. In an interview with ABS-CBN, he raised concerns about the projects having no concrete plan to protect the environment.

Ban on vape

In February, President Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) No. 106, expanding his Nationwide Smoking Ban to cover the use of vapes, electronic cigarettes, and other tobacco products in enclosed public spaces.

Health issues

In August this year, President Duterte slammed the people spreading rumors that he went to Singapore for medical treatment. According to the President, he has no obligation to keep his trips a secret from the people.

According to Roque, the public should stop speculating about Duterte's health condition, saying his weekly televised appearance is enough evidence that the Chief Executive is in good shape. He likewise assured the public that the President will inform them of any serious illness as mandated by the Constitution.