CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in the Caraga region finalized plans on Thursday evening for the continuing prayer rally and the celebration of the 80th birthday of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on 28 March. Duterte is currently detained at the International Court of Justice (ICC) "Hilton prison" in The Hague, Netherlands, while awaiting trial for alleged crimes against humanity.
Manny Lumanao, PDP-Laban regional president, told the DAILY TRIBUNE that it was agreed the prayer, candlelight, and birthday celebration would be held simultaneously in the towns and provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Island, and the cities of Butuan, Surigao, and Tandag on 28 March.
"The prayer and birthday celebration will begin at dusk on the birthday of ‘Tatay Digong,’" he said.
He noted that when the former president was arrested on 11 March, simultaneous rallies were held in key cities and towns in the region, and have continued every night since.
Lumanao said thousands of people from all walks of life, including children and the elderly, have come out of their homes holding candles to join the peaceful mass gatherings.
He said the 28 March gathering will be submitted to the organizers of the Guiness book of record for the biggest mass rally prayers in the world.
He said Filipinos across the country and worldwide would be holding their own prayer and birthday celebration rallies to show their full support for the former president, who championed the plight of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) during his six-year term.
"OFWs, mostly supporters of Duterte, will light candles, sing the Philippine national anthem, and chant ‘Duterte Ibalik,’" he added.
Earlier, Benito Ranque, co-convenor of the Return Duterte movement, said the prayer rallies and candlelight ceremonies across the country and other parts of the world seek "divine intervention" to resolve Duterte’s fate after his arrest and transfer to The Hague for trial.
"No amount of indignant rallies and protests can resolve the fate of Tatay Digong; only divine intervention can change the course of the political landscape in the country," he said.
He noted that the silence of U.S. President Donald Trump on Duterte’s arrest is an indication that FPRRD is now on his own and must face the legal battle before an international tribunal.
He also mentioned that pro-Duterte supporters have held prayer rallies in front of the Philippine Embassy in New York, as well as in the Middle East, Canada, and Europe.
The series of prayer rallies in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Bislig City, Tandag City, Davao, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon, Marawi City, Cebu, and Iloilo City is a sign that people are coming out of their homes to pray and light candles for FPRRD, he said.
"This is the first time in Philippine history that a former president is celebrating his birthday behind bars in a foreign country to face trial for alleged crimes against humanity," Lumanao remarked.