Psychologist explains Antisocial Narcissistic Personality Disorder of incoming Philippine president

A psychologist’s report, published in April, on the annulment of the marriage of Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to former wife Elizabeth Zimmerman explains his outburst at media on Saturday. During his victory party at the Crocodile Park in Davao City, a local reporter asked about the incoming president’s health.

Duterte told the reporter from the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he was fine and good. The reporter shot back, “Son of a b***h – Where is your medical report?” The former Davao City mayor complained that the reporter made him appear like a villain, but his response, which included reference to the female genital, was criticised by local media. Differences with the local media led the next president to declare he would no longer hold press conferences until the end of his term in 2022.

In its April 20 report, ABS-CBN cited the report prepared by Dr Natividad Dayan, former president of the International Council of Psychologists. Zimmerman used Dayan’s report as evidence in annulment proceedings she initiated against Duterte in 1998 before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court.

The report concludes that Duterte is suffering from Antisocial Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Dayan described the disorder as a condition characterised by “gross indifference, insensitivity and self-centeredness.” Persons with the disorder have a “grandiose sense of self-entitlement and manipulative behaviors” and “pervasive tendency to demean, humiliate others and violate their rights and feelings.”

The couple were married in 1973, but by the time she filed for a declaration of nullity of marriage in 1998, their union was already broken for about 10 years. The two split in July 1998, but the past 10 years they had been sleeping on separate beds.

In her testimony, Zimmerman described her marriage to Duterte as “miserable and unhappy” which resulted in RTC Judge Pablo Roxas granting her petition for nullity of marriage that was characterised by his womanising and volatile temper.

The report adds that Zimmerman suffered from Partner Relational Problem due to severe stress when she was still married to Duterte. The disorder existed before Duterte’s marriage to Zimmerman, based on a clinical examination done on the then prosecutor.

People suffering from the disorder lack the ability to be loyal and commit, have gross indifference to the needs and feelings of others and lack the capacity for remorse and guilt. However, Duterte’s daughter, Sara – the current mayor of Davao City – said the report did not state her father lacks the capacity to lead the nation. She added the proceedings happened 15 years ago and there is no bad blood between her parents, with Zimmerman even campaigning for her ex-husband.

Mentalhealth.com says that about 0.2 to 3 percent of the general population are suffering from the disorder. It is seen in 3 to 30 percent of psychiatric patients and 70 percent prevalent in prison and substance abuse clinics population.

VIDEO: Rody vents ire on wrong reporter