DAVAO CITY – A massive crowd gathered on Sunday, March 16, and took part in a solidarity walk for former Davao City Mayor and President Rodrigo R. Duterte during the 88th Araw ng Dabaw's Parada Dabawenyo and called on President Ferdinand E. Marcos Jr. to resign from his position.
SUPPORTERS of former President Rodrigo Duterte seek his freedom in a solidarity walk in Davao City on March 16. (Keith Bacongco)
The somewhat quiet and empty roadside early in the morning on Sunday was later on occupied by a large crowd of people participating in the solidarity walk, chanting "Duterte" and "Bring back home FPRRD."
The crowd chanted "Marcos resign" when Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte addressed the crowd.
"I want to take this opportunity to tell Mr. Marcos how I feel about him. Mr. President Marcos, you will never be loved, especially to us who are calling out Rody Duterte's name. You will never be loved, Mr. Marcos. We will stand up and we will fight back," Mayor Duterte said in his speech at the culmination of the 88th Araw ng Dabaw.
Mayor Duterte, expressing deep gratitude to the crowd and the supporters of the Duterte family, said he isn’t surprised by the current situation, noting that his father’s stand against traditional politicians – who resist change in the country – likely triggered it. He added that these politicians fear having their true motives exposed.
The city mayor stressed that the Marcoses and other "thick-faced politicians" oppose Rody Duterte’s presence because he disrupts their political maneuvers. He added that, beyond lacking the people’s support, Marcos only holds power through the government’s resources and his current term.
"Beyond that, you (President Marcos) are nothing! He must have forgotten that we were the ones who helped him get to the position he’s sitting in now. I truly pray, Mr. Marcos, that you will be able to finish your term. I pray!" Mayor Duterte said. He also reminded him that he owes the proper burial of their father – Marcos Sr. – to FPRRD.
The disappointed crowd chanted "Hukayin," (Dig!) suggesting to excavate the body of Marcos Sr. which Mayor Duterte disapproved as the late Marcos has nothing to do with the current situation. He asked the public to respect the decision of former President Duterte about that and continue pray for FPRRD instead.
Mayor Duterte also hinted about what's keeping the Marcos administration working for longer hours. He said illegal drugs destroys families, communities, and innocent lives.
The crowd mocked the President and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Police Major Gen. Nicolas Torre through their chants.
"This is not the time for us to weaken. Let us not waste Rody Duterte's sacrifice. "This will not end now, this will not end," Mayor Duterte said as he thanked again the people of Davao and all the Duterte supporters. He added that he would not be around if not for the people who endlessly supported him and his family.
Also in attendance during the Parada Dabawenyo was senatorial candidate Philip Salvador of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and reelectionist Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, who continuously urged the public to pray for former President Duterte's safety and health at The Hague.
The 88th Araw ng Dabaw's Parada Dabawenyo, with 415 contingents this year, has become a platform for expressing unity and support to President Duterte, who is currently detained and undergoing trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. There will be a solidarity night on Sunday night, March 16.