GASLIGHTING is a term used to refer to a form of psychological abuse where one person makes another question his or her sanity, perception of reality, judgment and memory. And one of the strategies is to stage bizarre events or audacious statements to disorient the victim. One of the effects of gaslighting on its victims is that it induces cognitive dissonance and a loss of confidence, which could lead to learned helplessness among them.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly denied ever raising the issue of China during the 2016 campaign. He gave the impression that China is already in full possession of the West Philippine Sea and that he is predisposed to ignore the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which he once again trashed and diminished as a mere piece of paper fit for the garbage can. He said that he was just joking when he threatened to ride a jet ski carrying the Philippine flag toward the Spratlys as his symbolic protest, and he even called the people who believed him — a good number of whom were his loyal diehard Duterte supporters (DDS) — stupid.
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