Thousands Transform Araw ng Dabaw into Protest, Demand Duterte’s Return
What was meant to be a festive celebration of Davao City’s 88th founding anniversary turned into a massive demonstration on Sunday, March 16, as thousands of supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte rallied to demand his release and return to the Philippines.
According to the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), the protest march gathered as many as 20,000 people by noon. The demonstrators, carrying banners and placards, transformed the annual celebration into a political show of force, chanting for Duterte’s freedom.
Prayer Rally and Protest Against ICC Detention
The protest, which included a prayer rally at Rizal Park near city hall, was a response to Duterte’s March 11 arrest and subsequent detention in The Hague, Netherlands. The former president is facing charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged extrajudicial killings tied to his controversial war on drugs.
Duterte, who served multiple terms as mayor, vice mayor, and congressman before becoming president in 2016, remains highly influential in his hometown. The protest reflected the deep loyalty and growing tensions surrounding his arrest.
Baste Duterte Revives Old Grievances Against Marcos
Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, in his speech, revived past grievances against the Marcos administration, particularly regarding the 2016 burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
“Ang imong amahan gipalubong sa akong amahan pero akong amahan gipapriso nimu.”
(“My father allowed the burial of your father, but you had my father imprisoned.”)
Rodrigo Duterte ordered Marcos Sr.’s controversial burial at the national heroes’ cemetery, a move that sparked outrage from martial law survivors, human rights groups, and progressive organizations.
Baste Duterte warned Filipinos against allowing the government to treat them the way his father is being treated.
“Do not ever allow your government to treat you how they treated my father.”
ICC Charges and Death Toll
Duterte is accused of responsibility for thousands of extrajudicial killings linked to his administration’s bloody war on drugs. Official police reports state that at least 6,252 individuals were killed in anti-drug operations. However, human rights groups estimate that the real number could be as high as 27,000, with many deaths linked to vigilante-style executions.
The growing protests in Davao City signal an escalating political showdown as Duterte’s loyalists push back against his ICC detention, while his critics continue to demand accountability for alleged human rights abuses.
