DAVAO CITY – Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte accused President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and his administration of political persecution and unfair governance during the 80th birth anniversary celebration here for former President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Friday, March 28.
A DRONE shot of people attending former President Rodrigo Duterte’s 80th birth anniversary celebration in Davao City on March 28. (Photo courtesy of Ken Bandayanon)
Mayor Duterte, speaking before a massive crowd at the “Rody at 80: Global Filipino Solidarity as One Davao” birthday celebration for former President Duterte, said Marcos is allegedly making life difficult for Davao for his political gain.
“What I do not understand about the President is, why would you make a city suffer just for your political gain to have your candidate win in the 2028 election? What kind of person are you?” the mayor said in the local dialect, followed by cheers from the crowd.
Participants here for the worldwide celebration of the elder Duterte’s birthday surpassed 330,000 as of 8:40 p.m. Friday, more than twice the initial estimate of 100,000. The crowd was chanting “Marcos, bangag! (junkie)”
“He knows it. It is his doing,” Mayor Duterte responded, as he expressed disbelief over what he described as “a government that resents the fight against illegal drugs.” He added that this is the first time a government gets angry when drugs are opposed.
Comparing the situation to a chess game, the mayor claimed that the national government had been checkmated by questions surrounding the controversial 2025 General Appropriations Act, leading it to “kidnap” the elder Duterte as a desperate move.
Former President Duterte was taken into custody in Manila on March 11 after arriving from Hong Kong and later transported to The Hague in the Netherlands to face cases of crimes against humanity filed before the International Criminal Court.
“Now that they are losing, they scrambled the pieces, took (expletive) hostage, and flipped the board so no one here can win,” he said, adding that Marcos fears his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, could defeat them in the 2028 presidential election.
Mayor Duterte argued that Marcos would not have won in the 2022 elections without the backing of the people of Davao City.
They believe Marcos attempted to extend his term beyond 2028. However, the 1987 Constitution limits the President and Vice President to one six-year term. The Constitution emphasizes that the President shall not be eligible for re-election and that no Vice President shall serve for more than two successive terms.
Mayor Duterte accused Marcos of being insecure: "When it comes to political brilliance and good governance, no one is a greater master than President Rody Duterte, Tatay Digong. That’s why Marcos is insecure and keeps attacking us for a reason.”
He also acknowledged the emotional toll of the former President’s imprisonment: “It’s not easy having a father imprisoned for doing nothing but for the betterment of the country. I do not think he was ever really gone from us. He is always in our hearts.”
Mayor Duterte discussed his father’s leadership in Davao City and how his legacy should be upheld. He encouraged Davaoeños to continue standing by his father and speak up.
“To keep the legacy he left behind alive, let us just follow what he always said – we Davaoeños are disciplined, kind, and stand up for what is right and just,” Mayor Duterte said as he vowed to continue the fight for his father’s legacy.
“As long as you are here, we will never stop,” Mayor Dutertre said, assuring supporters that they would not back down and would continue to fight for what is right and what is just for the people of Davao City and the Filipino people in general.
The gathering here was one of the largest in support of the former President. Mayor Duterte’s speech highlighted the growing tension between the Duterte and Marcos camps, with political battles expected to continue in the lead-up to future elections.
According to Map Checking, the crowd-counting tool used by fact-checkers, the 330,000 crowd does not include those on Coastal Road, San Pedro St., Quirino, and Quimpo Boulevard who were on their vehicles to the main venue.
Candidates in the first, second, and third districts in the local elections attended former President Duterte's birthday celebration. Also in attendance were Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan members and senatorial candidates
Ronald dela Rosa, Christopher Lawrence Go, and Philip Salvador.
Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II, grandson and namesake of the elder Duterte and second son of Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, rallied supporters by declaring: “We will fight them back!” He asked the public not to stop until former President Duterte is brought home.
“I have only one request: Let us not stop until Rodrigo Roa Duterte is brought home. I just want my grandfather to come home. He is a simple man and would be happy to just rest under his mosquito net,” Rigo said in a local dialect.
His brother, Omar Vincent, eldest son of Rep. Duterte, delivered a brief message asking Davaoeños to pray for his grandfather’s release. He recalled his time with his grandfather who inspired him to become who he is now.
Mayor Duterte, along with his nephews, thanked their father’s supporters. He was lucky to be the son of the former Chief Executive and believes that the elder Duterte must have done great things to have such massive support from the Filipino people.
The event concluded around 11 p.m. as the crowd lit their candles and phones, sang songs, and wished former President Duterte a happy birthday, followed by the mesmerizing drone show, one of the highlights of the event in honor of former President Duterte's birth anniversary.