Supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte gathered outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility in The Hague on March 29, 2025, to celebrate his 80th birthday and push the “Bring Home FPRRD” campaign.
Former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello was seen at the gathering, arriving at the detention site as early as 10 a.m. He confirmed securing an appointment to visit Duterte later that day.
The event featured speeches from former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Senator Robin Padilla. Supporters also marched to a nearby park for a larger afternoon program, while others remained near the detention center. Dutch police on-site reminded organizers and attendees to stay within the fenced green area designated for a picnic, as the permit issued only allowed a gathering of up to 500 people—excluding political rallies.
In the afternoon, more police officers arrived to ensure pedestrian and bike lanes remained clear and that the group complied with the permit’s conditions.
While Duterte’s supporters rallied in celebration, progressive groups across Europe and the Philippines held candlelight vigils in remembrance of the victims of the administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
“Duterte’s drug war was never about justice — it was a war against the poor. They went after those who had nothing, those who couldn’t fight back,” said Mira Cruz, whose two brothers were killed in 2017.
On March 28, activists launched the Duterte Panagutin Europe Network, a coalition of groups from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The alliance vowed to seek accountability for the deaths linked to Duterte’s drug war.
“We light candles not for Duterte, but for the tens of thousands of victims who were murdered without trial and due process. We remember the grieving families, the orphans, the mothers who still search for answers,” said Patricia Enriquez of Pinay sa Holland-Gabriela, a convenor of the network. “Duterte may celebrate in comfort, but we will ensure that the world does not forget his crimes.”