Thousands of supporters of the Mayor Sara Duterte Alliance (MASADA) and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP-Laban) have begun massive prayer rallies across the country and in the Netherlands. They held candlelight ceremonies, praying and chanting, “Duterte, Ibalik.”
Benito Ranque, MASADA lead convenor, told the DAILY TRIBUNE that Filipinos in the Netherlands traveled to Rotterdam to show their full support for the former president, who championed the plight of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) during his six-year term.
“The OFWs, mostly supporters of Duterte, lit candles, sang the Philippine national anthem, and chanted, ‘Duterte Ibalik,’” Ranque said.
He added that the prayer rallies and candlelight ceremonies across the country and in the Netherlands seek "divine intervention" to determine the fate of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was successfully arrested and flown to The Hague, Netherlands, to face trial for alleged crimes against humanity.
“No amount of indignation rallies and protests can resolve the fate of Tatay Digong. Only divine intervention can change the course of the political landscape in the country,” Ranque told the DAILY TRIBUNE hours after Duterte's plane took off from Villamor Air Base.
He also noted the silence of former U.S. President Donald Trump on the International Criminal Court (ICC) issue, stating that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD) is now on his own and must face his legal battle before an international tribunal.
“God bless the Philippines,” he said.
Manny Lumanao from the Caraga region also told the DAILY TRIBUNE that prayer rallies and candlelight ceremonies were held in Butuan and Bislig in Surigao del Sur to pray for Duterte’s return to the country.
Lumanao on Monday foresaw that any attempt to arrest former President Duterte would backfire and trigger a “snowball effect” that could benefit the nine PDP-Laban candidates now creeping into the so-called "Magic 12" in the senatorial lineup.
He said the public is closely watching Duterte’s possible return from Hong Kong after reports surfaced in mainstream and social media that the Philippine National Police (PNP) may arrest him upon his arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport or in Davao City.
“Any arrest will backfire on the administration candidates,” he said.
Ranque, for his part, welcomed Vice President Sara Duterte’s hint at joining the 2028 presidential race—a political move MASADA has been advocating since the 2022 elections.
Ranque reacted to the vice president’s brief appearance at a thanksgiving event in Hong Kong, where she playfully teased a possible presidential bid in 2028.
“I am thankful that from 2016 until 2025, you are still here… And in the next election in 2028—just kidding,” she said in Filipino, sparking immediate speculation about her future political plans.
Ranque said the defunct MASADA, originally called the Mayor Sara Duterte Alliance, spearheaded the “Run Sara Run” movement before the 2022 elections.
In fact, he said, the group organized a caravan from Davao City to Pasay City in Manila to urge then-Mayor Duterte to run for president in the last election.
MASADA was later renamed Marcos-Sara Duterte Alliance (MASADA) when Sara agreed to be Bongbong Marcos’ running mate.
Now, the defunct Marcos-Sara Duterte Alliance (MASADA) has regrouped to urge Vice President Sara Duterte to run for president in 2028. The group believes this could be her stepping stone to becoming the "Golda Meir of the Philippines" because of her Jewish ancestry, organizers announced on Friday.
“No more Marcos alliance—MASADA is back in action in its original form to carry out a nationwide movement seeking support for Inday Sara to run in 2028. We foresee the rise of Inday Sara as the ‘Golda Meir’ of the Philippines if she becomes the next president,” Ranque said.
He explained that MASADA, named after an ancient Jewish fortress that resisted Roman invasion, would adopt what they call an “Israeli strategy” if Inday Sara decides to join the 2028 presidential race.
Ranque emphasized that with her Jewish ancestry and strong political will, the vice president has the potential to become the Philippines’ own Golda Meir.
The grandfather of Sara, the father of her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman, was German Jew and obtained a visa to the Philippine along with approximate 1,300 European Jews before World War 11.
Sara Duterte’s grandfather, the father of her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman, was a German Jew who obtained a visa to the Philippines along with approximately 1,300 European Jews before World War II.
“The Jewish ancestry of Inday Sara and her strong-willed governance in Davao City will make her the ‘Golda Meir of the Philippines,’” Ranque said.
The late Golda Meir was an Israeli politician who helped establish the State of Israel and later served as its fourth prime minister.
She was dubbed the “Iron Lady of the Jewish state” during her time.
The MASADA acronym refers to an ancient Israeli fortress that defied the mighty Roman Empire. The Masada defenders ultimately chose to commit mass suicide rather than surrender to the Romans.