DAVAO CITY – Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte marked on Thursday, June 19, the 100th day since his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was detained at The Hague in the Netherlands under international charges still pending legal resolution.
Rep. Duterte criticized the former President’s detention as unjust, describing the pain of his father's absence as “immeasurable” on a personal level and “unbearable” from a national standpoint.
“He is not a criminal. He is a man who gave his life to serve this nation,” said Rep. Duterte who recalled the Duterte patriarch's tenure marked by a controversial but resolute campaign against illegal drugs and criminality.
He stood up against the enemies of the Republic, and now he suffers alone – far from home, far from his people, Rep. Duterte said.
Rep. Duterte did not directly address the specifics of the legal proceedings but emphasized the former President’s legacy, calling him a “patriot who never turned his back on the people of the country.”
The lawmaker appealed for national solidarity, urging Filipinos at home and abroad to remember the elder Duterte not just as a leader but “as a father, a friend, and a man who stood up against the enemies of the Republic.”
“Tonight, and in the days to come, let us pray for his strength, for his health, and for his freedom. Light a candle, say his name, and let your love be felt across the walls of that foreign prison, he said to the former Chief Executive’s supporters.
Rep. Duterte assured his father that they are with him all the way. “Pa, bisan asa ka man ibutang sa Ginoo, you are not alone. We are with you – one family, one nation, one light (Dad, wherever God places you, you are not alone).
Supporters of the former President have rallied around the hashtags #FreePRRD and #100DaysTooLong which trended on Philippine social media platforms following the release of the statement.
Former President Duterte, who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, has been held in The Hague since March 11, 2025.
He is facing charges connected to alleged human rights violations during his administration’s war on drugs, cases that have long polarized the local and international communities.
Pro-Duterte groups are reportedly planning candlelight vigils and prayer gatherings across major cities in the country on Thursday night, June 19, for his birthday.