THE HAGUE — Supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte continued to gather in front of the ICC detention facility in The Hague on March 29, 2025, to celebrate his birthday and push the “Bring Home FPRRD” campaign.

Former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello, who arrived as early as 10 a.m., was seen among the supporters. He confirmed that he had arrived in The Hague that same morning and was securing an appointment to visit the former president.

Duterte supporters also converged outside the prison, with groups marching toward a larger park for an afternoon program, while the event continued near the detention facility with speeches from former Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque and Sen. Robin Padilla.

Dutch police arrived to locate the event organizers and reminded them to stay within the fenced green area designated for the picnic.

The permit for Saturday's gathering allowed only up to 500 people within the barricades for a picnic, not a political rally.

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

Roque and Padilla stayed for some time with the supporters for the “picnic.”

'Permit only for picnic': Dutch police warn Duterte supporters near ICC detention center

'DUTERTE PANAGUTIN'

Coinciding with Duterte’s 80th birthday, progressive groups across Europe and in the Philippines lit candles to pay tribute and seek justice for the victims of the so-called extrajudicial killings in the country.

“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 during Duterte’s bloody drug war.

On March 28, the Duterte Panagutin Europe Network — an alliance of organizations, individuals, and solidarity groups from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom — was also launched.

The network demands accountability from Duterte for his war on drugs. The event brought together organizations that reaffirmed their commitment to seeking justice for the victims.

“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. Duterte may celebrate in comfort, but we will ensure that the world does not forget his crimes,” said Patricia Enriquez of Pinay sa Holland-Gabriela and a convenor of Duterte Panagutin Europe.