A file photo of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies Sen. Bato dela Rosa and Sen. Bong Go taken on April 17, 2019. ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA (UPDATED) — Re-electionist Sens. Bong Go and Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Friday sought prayers as former President Rodrigo Duterte celebrates his 80th birthday while detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Netherlands. 

Duterte case seen as a 'gift' for embattled ICC

Go and Dela Rosa are among Duterte's closest allies and who benefited the most politically from that affiliation.

Go, Duterte's frequent travel companion, was Special Assistant to the President while Dela Rosa was the Philippine National Police chief who oversaw the first phase of the brutal drug war that is now the subject of the ICC case. 

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“Tay, maraming nagmamahal sa ‘yo. Sa araw ng iyong kaarawan, dasal namin ang kalakasan mo at kapanatagan ng loob. Manatili tayong matatag at magtiwala sa tamang proseso," Go said.

(Dad, many people love you. On your birthday, we pray for your strength and inner peace. Let us be strong and trust in the right process)

"At atin din sanang ipagdasal sa Poong Maykapal na sana siya po ay bigyan ng magandang kalusugan, talas ng isipan, at tibay ng kalooban upang kanyang malagpasan ang lahat ng pagsubok na kanyang kinakaharap ngayon," Dela Rosa said.

(We also pray for good health, a sharp mind, and strong will for him to get past all the challenges he is facing now)

Vice President Sara Duterte, who is assembling her father's legal team in The Hague, also urged prayers for the former President.

Sara Duterte thanks supporters, asks for prayers for father’s 80th birthday

Go said "over 200 sites around the world" would be holding synchronized events to mark Duterte's 80th birthday.

The Davao City Police Office on Thursday said it would deploy about 1,800 personnel to secure the city as thousands are expected to join gatherings for Duterte.

Thousands expected to join Duterte birthday gathering in Davao City

BAYAN COMMEMORATES VICTIMS

Not all who remembered Duterte on his birthday had good cheer for him, however, with Bagong Alyansang Makabayan president Renato Reyes Jr. saying the organization "[remembers] the thousands killed during his reign of terror who will no longer be able to celebrate their birthdays."

He said activists of the national democratic movement will also instead remember political prisoners detained during Duterte's presidency. 

"We remember the families of the disappeared who continue to wait for the return of their loved ones so that they may celebrate their birthdays."

He added: "We wish him a long life so that he could see his trial through to the end, understand what due process entails, and see the outcome of a process that was denied many of his victims."

Duterte was arrested on March 11 upon his arrival from Hong Kong at the request of the ICC as part of its probe into possible "crimes against humanity" committed in relation to his "war on drugs." 

Ex-President Duterte arrested on ICC warrant for alleged crimes against humanity

He was brought to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day he was arrested.

The ICC warrant for Duterte's arrest said that he created, funded, and armed death squads that carried out murders of purported drug users and dealers.

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