Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's eldest son resigned from his local government post Monday, citing allegations of links to drug smugglers which he denies and a bitter social media dispute with his own daughter.Paolo Duterte told the city council of Davao, a southern port where he serves as vice-mayor, that he was resigning because of "recent unfortunate events in my life" – citing family problems and allegations of drug smuggling."These among others, include the mali

Take 7,100 islands, add 100 million people, throw in a twist of corruption, an unhealthy slug of poverty and a dab of dynastic politics, and what do you get? A recipe for disaster, you might think. And yet the Philippines has been simmering nicely enough as a developing democracy since the overthrow of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Recent years have been marked by relative stability and economic growth that’s outpaced most of Southeast Asia.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he will have his son killed if drug trafficking allegations against the younger politician are true, and that the police who carry out the hit will be protected from prosecution.Paolo Duterte, 42, this month appeared before a senate inquiry to deny accusations made by an opposition lawmaker he was a member of a Chinese triad who helped smuggle in a huge shipment of crystal methamphetamine from China.President Duterte did not refer to the allegatio