Manila - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, a tough-talking,
crime-fighting former mayor, has topped Time magazine's online reader
poll for its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the
world.
The official Time 100 list will be released on Thursday, the magazine
said.
Duterte, who took office on June 30, took 5 per cent of the online
votes cast, followed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Pope
Francis, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, Time said.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte is "so admired by
Filipinos and international leaders alike (because of) his national
agenda - he has prioritized public interest first and foremost."
"With or without the distinction, the president continues to be a
hard-working government worker and faithful servant of the Filipino
people," Abella said in a statement Monday.
"Indeed Filipinos find in the president a kindred spirit, a leader
who acts for the common good," he added.
Duterte has become notorious for a string of foul-mouthed and sexist
remarks, a deadly campaign against illegal drugs that has killed
thousands and threats to break ties with the country's oldest ally,
the United States.
Last month, the 72-year-old leader lashed out at European Union
lawmakers, calling them "sons of bitches" and "fools" for calling on
the Philippines not to reimpose the death penalty and expressing
support for a detained opposition senator.
Duterte also told former US president Barack Obama to "go to hell"
and called the United Nations "stupid" just three months into his
six-year term.