Duterte Supporters Stage Solidarity Walk for Former President's 81st Birthday
On Saturday afternoon, March 28, 2026, a sea of green-clad supporters gathered along Roxas Avenue in Davao City to participate in the Solidarity Walk for former President Rodrigo Duterte, commemorating his 81st birthday. The event drew thousands of participants who marched from Roxas Avenue to San Pedro Square, demonstrating unwavering support and solidarity for the detained leader.
Vice President Sara Duterte's Birthday Wishes and Concerns
In a media interview held at San Pedro Square on the same day, Vice President Sara Duterte shared her heartfelt wishes for her father. "For an 81-year-old, we all have only one birthday wish," she stated. "And that is, he be given another year of good health by our God." She revealed that she had not been able to greet him directly due to restrictions on weekend calls at the detention facility and noted that he has not contacted her for an extended period.
However, Sara expressed reassurance knowing that her brother, Congressman Paolo 'Pulong' Duterte, visits the former president daily, providing massages and conversing with him in Bisaya. She admitted uncertainty about any special celebrations within the detention center.
Call for Vigilance and Defense of Rights
In a video message released on her father's birthday, Vice President Duterte issued a strong call to action. She urged vigilance against what she described as the "weaponization of the law" and the "intrusion of foreign bodies" allegedly attempting to bypass Philippine courts. "But as we celebrate, we also stand firm. The defense of his rights is a defense of our national sovereignty," she emphasized.
Sara extended gratitude to the family's supporters for their enduring love and loyalty, which she said reflects the leadership her father prioritized.
Solidarity Walk Highlights and Demands
Later that day, the solidarity walk intensified as participants chanted "Bring Him Home" and called for Duterte's release. Organizers framed the gathering as both a birthday tribute and an appeal to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to free him. The march proceeded from Roxas Avenue to Rizal Park, attracting political allies, Duterte family members, and supporters from across the nation.
The program concluded with prayers, songs, and renewed appeals for the former president's release. Simultaneously, celebrations occurred on Duterte Street in The Hague and in various locations worldwide, underscoring the global reach of his support base.
Duterte's Birthday in Detention
Former President Rodrigo Duterte marked his 81st birthday at the Hague Penitentiary Institution, also known as Scheveningen Prison, in the Netherlands. This marks the second consecutive year he has celebrated his birthday in detention, highlighting the ongoing legal challenges he faces.
