the following text talks about one of the threats to democracy in Philippines, how were the citizens of Philippines at the time positioned to believe: Rodrigo Duterte has dangerously lumped opposition figures with the Communist Party of the Philippines, which his government considers terrorist. Before the 2019 elections, he publicised a list of politicians who he claims were involved in illegal drug. For instance, he has attempted to imprison senator Antonio Trillanes who is most known for accusing Duterte and his family of hidden wealth.

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The citizens of the Philippines were positioned to believe that Rodrigo Duterte's actions were a threat to democracy for several reasons. Firstly, Duterte had publicly associated opposition figures with the Communist Party of the Philippines, labeling them as terrorists. By lumping the opposition together with a group that is widely perceived as a threat to national security, Duterte created a narrative that further polarized the political environment.

Additionally, Duterte's government publicized a list of politicians allegedly involved in illegal drug activities prior to the 2019 elections. This move created a sense of suspicion and mistrust among the public, as the accusations were made without substantial evidence or due process. By using the issue of illegal drugs, which is a significant concern in the Philippines, Duterte attempted to discredit and tarnish the reputations of his political opponents.

One specific example of this was Duterte's attempt to imprison Senator Antonio Trillanes, who had accused Duterte and his family of hidden wealth. By targeting Trillanes, a prominent critic, Duterte sent a strong message to other opposition figures that dissent would not be tolerated. This move could have instilled fear among citizens and discouraged them from speaking out against Duterte and his policies.

Overall, Duterte's actions and rhetoric created an environment where opposition figures were labeled as terrorists or criminals, leading to a potential erosion of democratic values and principles in the Philippines.