Rodrigo Duterte Sworn in as New Philippines President

Rodrigo Duterte took oath and was sworn in as the new president of the Philippines this past Thursday June 30, 2016.  

The ex-mayor of Davao City became the 16th President of the Philippines as he inaugurated his office by taking oath at Manila's Malacanang Palace. He was accompanied by officials and family.

One cannot say that his road to the presidency was not full with controversies. In fact this year's presidential elections was one of the most hotly debated elections in the nation's history.

Many believe that the reason behind Duterte's success was his brash, out-spoken style of campaigning. While ultimately this way of talking won the former mayor of Davao the campaign, there were a few times where it could have hurt his chances at the presidency.

'I Will Not Seek the Presidency of the Philippines'

It was mid October 2015 when the candidates were beginning their campaign trails starting with their filing of candidacy for the office of the president. However, on the last day of eligibility, Duterte did not show.

Instead, Duterte was later seen at a press conference stating, "I therefore beg for everyone's kind understanding and acceptance of my sincerest apologies. After all, there was no ambition for me to aspire for the presidency. The country does not need me. I find no need for it too. I guess it is fate that wills that our long journey together should end this way,"

This statement did not last however. Duterte was named the substitute for PDP-Laban party candidate Martin Dino, which allowed Duterte to run after Dino withdrew from the race.

'The Mayor Should Have Been First'

In one of the most famous quotes from his campaign that drew Duterte the most heat was when the president was speaking about a 1989 prison riot in Davao, where a female Australian missionary raped and killed by the inmates of the prison.

During the rally, Duterte made a joke saying, "They raped all of the women. There was this Australian lay minister, when they took them out I saw her face and I thought, Son of a bitch. What a pity, they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought the mayor should have been first."

The statement, according to Dutrete's camp, was meant to be a joke but it drew criticism from the presidents opponents and might have cost him many votes.

After the "joke" was made public, Duterte's camp had to do severe damage control to fix the situation. Dutrete himself had to apologize for the statement stating that he should have read into it more carefully before approving it for his speech.

'This is Your Last Merry Christmas Lawbreakers'

The biggest stand that Duterte ran during his campaign is the elimination of graft, corruption, crime and drugs in the Philippines. The platform of reforming the country, which has been seen as one of the most corrupt countries in Asia, worked for the former mayor.

In one of his early presidential campaign speeches, Duterte warned those who have continued to live off the graft and corruption that plague the Philippines that this would be their last Merry Christmas if elected president.