DAVAO CITY – Supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte are set for a massive gathering here and in Mindanao for his 80th birth anniversary on Friday, March 28.
FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte (center) and his family during a gathering at their Davao City residence.
Organizers expect thousands of Duterte supporters to attend the event dubbed “Rody @ 80: A Global Celebration of his Life and Legacy.”
The City Transport and Traffic Management Office partially closed major streets at the heart of this city for the gathering.
Partial road closures began at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, March 26. Significant roads affected were C.M. Recto Ave. (Claveria St.) from San Pedro St. to Magsaysay Ave. and Roxas Ave. from Quezon Boulevard to C. Bangoy St.
Organizers built a huge covered platform at the intersection of Roxas Ave. and CM Recto St. where a program would be held on Friday starting at 3 p.m.
Several volunteers and shop owners have offered free T-shirt printing services for those attending the event. Dozens of Duterte’s supporters have brought T-shirts and availed of their services.
One of the volunteers said that she received at least free 150 T-shirts from an anonymous sponsor and at least 80 T-shirts have been brought to her shop for printing. She added that they will also be giving away badges and pins.
Volunteers came up with common designs that convey messages of support for the former President such as “I stand with FPRRD,” “Bring FPRRD Home,” and a quote from the former President “ I’m not a Filipino for nothing.”
The Ateneo de Davao University (Jacinto Campus) on Roxas Ave. will conduct asynchronous classes on March 28 due to the prayer rally.
The Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, with the Philippine National Police, on March 11 served the warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court against Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity during his campaign against illegal drugs.
His supporters have been holding prayer rallies and noise barrages around the city and various parts of the country since then.
Duterte’s supporters in almost all of the 27 provinces and 33 cities in Mindanao have also organized similar activities on March 28.