Public satisfaction with the performance of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s government rose in December to the highest level on record since one of the country’s top pollsters started conducting opinion surveys in 1980s. The world association of newspapers and news publishers has registered its concern with Duterte over the Philippines’ move to shut down leading online news outlet Rappler. In an opinion piece published by South China Morning Post, William Pesek says the Philippine president’s media clampdown is part of a larger trend of economic and democratic backsliding that should concern investors, especially as rumors swirl that he may seek to stay in office post 2022.