Thousands of Duterte supporters gathered in downtown Davao City and simultaneously sang “Happy Birthday” to former President Rodrigo Duterte, who celebrated his 80th birthday on Friday inside the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, the Netherlands while awaiting trial before the International Criminal Court for murder as a crime against humanity. (Drone shot by Davao City Police Office)
DAVAO CITY — Supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte painted the town green on Friday with activities in many parts of Mindanao in celebration of his 80th birthday, coinciding with the start of the campaign for local candidates in the May 12 elections.
Duterte supporters wore green shirts with the message “Bring him home.”
The former president is being detained in a facility in The Hague after he was arrested last March 11 on the order of the International Criminal Court (ICC). He is facing a case of crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his administration’s drug war.
In his hometown here, where the heat index was a bit high during the day, people started massing along CM Recto St. and Roxas Avenue around 3 p.m., with the crowd ballooning to at least 60,000 by 7 p.m., per estimate of the Davao City Police Office.
Prior to converging at the site of the solidarity action, some contingents held a motorcade along major streets.
In Cagayan de Oro City, thousands of supporters were unmindful of the rain as they gathered at the Rio de Oro Boulevard for the solidarity action, led by Councilor Joyleen Balaba. The local government had imposed a traffic rerouting scheme until midnight in consideration of the event.
Earlier, groups of riders staged a motorcade along major streets. A similar one was staged by riders in Iligan City.
In Kidapawan City, an estimated 3,000 people who joined the prayer rally for Duterte’s 80th birthday braved the downpour. They did not leave the national highway even when it started to rain.
Clad in green and white shirts printed with Duterte’s face and greetings for his birthday, the crowd occupied a 500-meter stretch of the highway, causing traffic congestion.
Pine trees within some 300-meter stretch along the highway’s center island were also adorned with red ribbons with the note “Bring PRRD home.”
Similar rallies were also held in the towns of Matalam, Mlang, and Arakan in Cotabato province.
In Pagadian City, an estimated 2,000 Duterte supporters joined the walk-run-bike-motorcade which despite the rain, pushed through along the five-kilometer stretch from the city plaza towards the uptown rotunda and back.
Meals prepared by private individuals were given to participants during a “salo-salo” for Duterte’s 80th birthday.
In Iligan City, a moderate rain delayed the gathering of Duterte supporters, including from other provinces and nearby towns of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Misamis Oriental, in the urban village of Palao.
The supporters were wearing green shirts with the note, “We stand with Duterte.” WITH REPORTS FROM JOSELLE BADILLA, LEAH AGONOY, RICHEL UMEL, WILLIAMOR MAGBANUA