The Dutch police on Saturday told supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte who have gathered near the International Criminal Court detention center in The Hague, the Netherlands, to stay within the fenced patch designated for their gathering.

The permit secured by Duterte's supporters for their gathering on Saturday allows only up to 500 people for a picnic, and not a political rally.

In the afternoon, another group of Dutch police officers arrived to remind the former leader's supporters to remain within the barricaded area and ensure that pedestrian and bike lanes remained unobstructed.

Duterte's former spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque, who is seeking asylum in the Netherlands, and Senator Robin Padilla stayed for some time at the “picnic.”

Duterte supporters continue to push for former leader's release

This, as Duterte's supporters have continued to campaign for his release on Saturday, as they gathered in front of the ICC detention facility.

They came from various parts of Europe, including Norway and Germany.

The gathering doubled as a celebration of Duterte's birthday. The former president turned 80 on Friday, March 28.

As early as 10:00 a.m., former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello was seen with the supporters. He confirmed that he had arrived in The Hague Saturday morning and was securing an appointment to visit the former president.

One group of Duterte supporters marched towards a larger park for an afternoon program, while the event continued near the detention facility with speeches from Roque and Padilla.

Duterte's arrest on March 11 and rapid handover to the international tribunal came on the heels of his family's bitter falling out with his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

His family and supporters gathered in The Hague on Friday to protest against his detention on a charge of crimes against humanity.

Duterte could spend the remainder of his life in jail if convicted at the ICC of the charge tied to his "war on drugs" in which thousands were killed. -- with Agence France-Presse

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