source: forwarded email in 2016 by choncho s.
Understanding Duterte: What a psych report says
"Tough-talking"
may be the most-used description for Davao city mayor and presidential
candidate Rodrigo Duterte, but it seems that his attitude and personality are
caused by a psychological condition, according to court records.
Details on how Duterte
thinks were made public after a report prepared by a psychologist was entered
into as evidence in the annulment proceedings initiated by his former wife,
Elizabeth Zimmerman.
A report prepared by
Dr. Natividad Dayan, former president of the International Council of
Psychologists, concluded that Duterte was suffering from "Antisocial
Narcissistic Personality Disorder,” a condition characterized by "gross
indifference, insensitivity and self-centeredness," "grandiose sense
of self-entitlement and manipulative behaviors" and "pervasive
tendency to demean, humiliate others and violate their rights and
feelings."
Zimmerman filed a
petition for declaration of nullity of marriage in 1998 before the Regional
Trial Court of Pasig City, alleging Duterte’s psychological incapacity.
Zimmerman, who was
married to Duterte since 1973, had been residing in Pasay City at that time
after their marriage turned sour 10 years prior.
'MISERABLE AND
UNHAPPY'
Duterte and Zimmerman
separated in July 1998. However, their marriage turned for the worse 10 years
prior and they started sleeping on separate beds as a result.
"Miserable and
unhappy," that was how Zimmerman described her marriage with Duterte when
she took the stand, under oath and in open court.
As narrated in a
decision penned by Judge Pablo M. Roxas, which granted Zimmerman's petition for
nullity of marriage, Zimmerman said that her marriage with the presidential
aspirant was marred with the latter’s womanizing and volatile temper.
According to official
court documents, Zimmerman testified that sometime after the birth of their
second child, Sara, in 1978, a woman, who introduced herself as Duterte's
mistress, confronted her to inform her of her husband's illicit liaisons.
During a confrontation
with Duterte, the latter acknowledged the affair and said that it was only a
scheme to get back at him since his affair with said woman had gone sour.
Zimmerman testified
that Duterte's womanizing continued as he had several affairs with other women
while he was a prosecutor. According to Zimmerman, Duterte's womanizing
worsened when he became an OIC-vice mayor of Davao City, with the politician
flaunting his other women and introducing them to his friends as "Mrs.
Duterte."
When confronted again
about his womanizing, Duterte told Zimmerman, based on court records, “Leave me
alone. I know what I am doing."
PERSONALITY DISORDER
Dayan said in her
psychological report that Zimmerman suffered a “Partner Relational Problem”
caused by "severe stress during her marriage to Rodrigo," and that
she will continue to suffer if she remained married to her husband.
The psychological
assessment concluded that Duterte was "psychologically incapacitated to
handle essential marital obligations." Moreover, Duterte's antisocial
narcissistic personality disorder was found to have existed prior to his
marriage to Zimmerman.
A clinical examination
conducted on Duterte confirmed that he was suffering from “Antisocial
Narcissistic Personality Disorder.”
Among the features of
said personality disorder are "inability for loyalty and commitment, gross
indifference to others' needs and feelings, heightened by lack of capacity for
remorse and guilt."
For years, Duterte had
been criticized for his alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao
City–and his apparent lack of remorse for it.
In more than one
instance, Duterte admitted, perhaps in jest, to killing scores of individuals
allegedly involved in criminal activities before they received their day in
court.
The mayor
previously admitted his links to the Davao Death Squad, which is allegedly
responsible for summary executions of criminals in the city. He also warned he
will kill up to 100,000 criminals if he is elected president.
In a television
interview, Duterte was unapologetic about his actions and even dared the group
to file a case against him in court.
"Ako, ako daw
death squad? True, that's true," Duterte said on air.
He also said that
instead of 1,000 dead criminals, the number might rise to 50,000 dead if he is
elected president.
"Pag naging
presidente ako, magtago na kayo. Yung 1,000 na ‘yan it would reach 50,000. I
will kill all you [expletive] breaking the life of the Filipino miserable.
Papatayin ko talaga kayo."
I do not want to commit a crime but if by
chance, God will place me there, magbantay kayo. Yung 1,000, magiging 100,000.
Dyan mo makita tataba yung isda sa Manila Bay. Dyan ko kayo itapon,"
Duterte said.
'IMMEDIATE
GRATIFICATION AND POOR JUDGMENT'
Results of Dayan's
examination of Duterte showed that the mayor is likely to be "a highly
impulsive individual who has difficulty controlling his urges and emotions. He
is unable to reflect on the consequences of his actions."
"Immediate
gratification of his [Duterte's] needs and desires is always expected; any
delay can upset him a great deal," the assessment said.
The psychological assessment
also found Duterte capable of destructive behavior and has poor capacity for
objective judgment.
"Such lack of
self-discipline often leads him to engage in unhealthy or destructive
behaviors. However, he is not apt to see his behaviors as such, and instead
sees these as merely exciting and challenging," the assessment found.
“As it is, he has poor
capacity for objective judgment. He fails to see things in the light of facts,
or at least from the point of view of most people. He interprets his actions
solely from his own viewpoint, which is blemished by his personal needs, biases
and prejudices,” it continued.
Duterte also tends to
rationalize and justify his wrongdoings, according to the psychological
assessment.
“For all his
wrongdoings, he tends to rationalize and feel justified. Hence, he seldom feels
a sense of guilt or remorse.”
