Putin's related souls: first a surgeon, now - Duterte Putin recently had a friend. This is President of the Philippine Rodrigo Duterte. The new Putin's friend is 71 years old, but as the president he is young, he was elected only six months ago. Having chosen, he looked around a little and immediately filed a request for friendship with Putin. Before the summit in Peru, he said so bluntly: I want, they say that Putin and I were friends. Well, and for two countries to be friends too.