Supporters rally as Rody marks 80th birthday in detention

With lighted candles in hand, thousands of Davao residents flocked at the break of dawn to the Duterte residence to give birthday greetings to former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently in the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s detention facility in The Hague.

- Edith Regalado

Supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte take in a rally to celebrate his 80th birthday in the Quirino and in Manila yesterday. AFP

Around 600 drones performed last night in this city, lighting up the sky to show how people value and love the former president.

But it was not only in his hometown that people prayed that he be brought home through an ICC ruling. Filipino communities in key cities around the world also held peace rallies and protest marches seeking Duterte's liberty. Over 150 venues had registered to be part of the 80th birthday celebration for Duterte.

Filipinos gathered in New York, Vancouver and Toronto in Canada, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Tokyo and other cities to call for Duterte's freedom.

At The Hague, overseas Filipinos supporting the former president, some coming all the way from the US, gathered for a birthday picnic outside the ICC detention center.

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte, who is still in The Hague, said the former president asked for nothing but Coke Zero.