BUTUAN CITY – About 5,000 people gathered at Guingona Park and Libertad Sports Complex here on Wednesday to support and wish former President Rodrigo Duterte good health following his arrest by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.
PEOPLE gather in a rally for President Rodrigo R. Duterte in Butuan City on Wednesday night, March 12. (Mike U. Crismundo)
Protesters were emotional as they prayed for Duterte’s well-being.
They said that his arrest was a grave miscarriage of justice. “Ang iyang edad wala nila taga-i ug bili (his age was not given consideration) for humanitarian reason,” one of them said.
They urged the people of Caraga to fight alleged injustices against the former President.
Police said the event was generally peaceful.
“The prayer rally was generally peaceful,” Police Regional Office-13 Regional Public Information Office chief Police Major Jennifer S. Ometer said.
Ometer said the Philippine National Police is on heightened alert nationwide and PRO-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Christopher N. Abrahano closely monitored the gathering.