Hundreds of supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte rallied in Palau last week to celebrate his 80th birthday and protest his detention at The Hague for crimes against humanity related to his war on drugs.
According to one of the supporters, the prayer and peace rally held on March 28 was “a unified effort from everyone who attended.
One supporter who works in Palau said that they gathered and celebrated Duterte’s birthday with food, drinks, and a cake.
Some people traveled from Babeldaob to Koror to join the event.
She said it’s their way of showing their support to Duterte and celebrating his 80th birthday.
According to the Solid Duterte Supporters—Palau Facebook Page , they are joining the global rally across the Philippines and abroad to call for Duterte’s release.
“From the heart of Palau, we stand in unity with Filipinos worldwide as we celebrate Tatay Digong @ 80 and hold our Prayer and Peace Rally. Together, we continue to pray that our voices will be heard, that he will be home soon,” the post stated.
Many of those who attended the rally wore shirts with the image of Duterte on them.
Duterte is awaiting a court appearance before the International Criminal Court, which is scheduled for September 23.
Meanwhile, as he waits for the court appearance, he is detained at the United Nations Scheveningen prison in the Netherlands.
Duterte was the president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022 and is facing allegations of overseeing death squads that allegedly led to the death of innocent victims of the so-called war on drugs.
However, Duterte ’s lawyers argued that the ICC had no jurisdiction over the case after the Philippines withdrew its membership from the ICC.
His lawyers also said that Duterte was not given due process when he was arrested in the Philippines on March 11 and rapidly handed over to the ICC in Hague.
The former president’s unexpected arrest marks a pivotal moment amidst a remarkable shift in the dynamics between the two most influential families in Philippine politics- Duterte and Marcos. (by: Bernadette Carreon)