I think this is what happened in the Philippines. Crime was out of control, people got totally fed up, elected a "strongman" and he personified the electorate'

I think this is what happened in the Philippines. Crime was out of control, people got totally fed up, elected a "strongman" and he personified the electorate's desire to rid society of those who went to far. In a psychological sense, he took on the burden of society and did the work on their behalf --they could feel good because it wasn't them, but rather the personification of their desire in the form of the "stongman". People want some peace --they will take a hit to civil liberties in exchange.