It's gotta be culture. I assume the rural areas bring the score down for the more developed areas.
Growing up in CA and attending high school and college with many Filipinos, I would have never guessed they have a lower IQ than other Asians or white people.
With what I am reading in the local forums regarding Politics in the Philippines it is really disturbing I don't consider my self as the exceptional Filipino I am no smart guy I know other Filipinos more intelligent than me but I have really notice the difference in the level of intellect between Filipinos and westerners.
Even in Message boards the Sherdog War Room has more logic and nuance discussion than the average Filipino Political online forum.
Message boards here are filled with non sense adhominems and strawman arguments.
The Duterte Suporters are very guilty of that.
Here are a few example of what the people say
*Who needs foreign investment if the criminals will just running in the streets murdering you?
*I am okay with Duterte cutting ties with the UN and USA and the EU as long as he kills all the criminals
*Only the big companies benefit from foreign investments anyway.
*What right do you have to criticize Duterte? What have you done for our country
*Why don't you run for the pressidency since you sound so smart
*The foreign businesses wont pull out from the Philippines since they need the money
*The Philippines is very rich with Natural resources we don't need foreign Aid.