The prayer rally in Davao City on March 28, 2025.

A massive prayer rally in Davao City drew an estimated crowd of more than 330,000 on Friday (March 28) in support of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. The rally, held on Duterte’s 80th birthday, has sparked similar demonstrations worldwide, including in Qatar, where several Filipinos were arrested for paricipating in suspected unauthorized political gatherings.

Unprecedented turnout in Davao

Davao’s main streets, including Roxas Avenue, Coastal Road, San Pedro Street, Quirino, and Quimpo Boulevard, were flooded with Duterte supporters as part of the “Rody at 80: Global Solidarity as One Davao!” rally. Participants, carrying banners demanding Duterte’s safe return to the Philippines, held a prayer vigil and delivered speeches emphasizing their call for his release. “This is not just about supporting Duterte. This is about fighting for justice for a man who dedicated his life to serving the Filipino people,” said one rally-goer, who identified himself as a long-time supporter of the former president. The former leader was arrested on Philippine shores on March 11, and is facing charges of crimes against humanity related to his controversial war on drugs, which ran from his tenure as Davao City mayor through his presidency from 2011 to 2019.

Global demonstrations and arrests in Qatar

Duterte’s supporters have also staged rallies in major cities worldwide, including New York and The Hague. However, in Qatar, where political demonstrations require government authorization, several Filipinos were arrested and detained for holding what authorities classified as unauthorized political protests. The Philippine Embassy in Qatar confirmed the arrests in a statement, saying it was aware that "several Filipino nationals have been arrested and detained early today, 28 March 2025, for suspected unauthorized political demonstrations in Qatar. The Embassy is in touch with local authorities for the provision of necessary consular assistance to said nationals." The embassy had previously warned Filipinos in Qatar to respect local laws regarding public gatherings and political demonstrations. However, it did not specify whether the detained Filipinos were directly protesting for Duterte or participating in broader political activism. Groups of Overseas Filipino Workers also began a Zero Remittance Week protest on Friday. The campaign, reportedly organized by groups of Duterte supporters in Europe, including Maisug Croatia, calls for a week-long halt on remittances from March 28 to April 4 as a show of protest against the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte. The Philippine government has yet to release an official statement regarding the detentions in Qatar or the mass gatherings worldwide. Supporters of the former president continue to push for his immediate return to the country, arguing that his arrest and trial at the ICC are politically motivated. As Duterte remains in detention in The Hague, his supporters vow to sustain their rallies worldwide, marking a significant moment of political mobilization among Filipinos both in the Philippines and abroad. ICA/Expat Media
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