BETWEEN 330,000 and 350,000 supporters converged at Roxas Avenue and C.M. Recto Street in Davao City on Friday, March 28, to participate in “Rody at 80,” celebrating the 80th birthday of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Davao City Police Office reported that the celebration was peaceful, with no untoward incident happening.
Angel Sumagaysay, the head of Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) on Sunday told TIMES that based on their estimate Davao city alone has more or less 320,000 attendees.
However, Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, the Philippine National Police spokesperson, claimed that only about 60,000 people joined around 200 rallies nationwide.
The Davao supporters wore green shirts, and some donned caps featuring a print of Duterte’s face as they expressed ongoing calls for his immediate release from detention at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, The Netherlands.
The program, which started at 1 p.m., included performances by local artists and speeches from key personalities. A multi-tiered cake bearing Duterte’s image was also displayed on stage.
In his message on Friday evening, Mayor Sebastian Duterte expressed his gratitude for the effort of the supporters who made time to attend the celebration, along with other Davao city officials.
Senators Bong Go and Ronald Dela Rosa also attended the said celebration.
Wency Cornejo, who performed at former President Rodrigo Duterte’s 80th birthday celebration last March 28, said, “It’s serendipitous that ‘Next In Line,’ my only popular English song, was not originally on the list included it because the phrase ‘BRING HIM HOME’ resonated deeply with me.
“Inserting it into one of my Tagalog songs as a sort of chant would have been, in my mind, wrong,” he explained. He added that he is amazed “how it’s become a peaceful battle cry for so many people.”
After the message of Mayor Sebastian Duterte, a drone show celebrating former President Rodrigo Duterte’s 80th birthday on Friday evening, featured images, including his face, illuminated in the night sky.
Police say event peaceful
In a statement, DCPO chief Col Hansel Marantan thanked the security and safety cluster for ensuring the success of “FPRRD @80: A Global Tribute to the Life and Legacy of Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.”
“The peaceful and orderly conduct of this significant event, with zero recorded incidents, is a testament to the strong collaboration between the people and security forces. The vigilance and cooperation of our fellow Davaoeños and visitors played a crucial role in maintaining a safe environment for all,” he said.
“As we continue to uphold Davao City’s reputation as a model of discipline and security, let us remain watchful and proactive. Safety is a shared responsibility, and our collective efforts in fostering a culture of alertness, respect, and cooperation will ensure that our city remains peaceful and secure,” he said.
Over 2,000 police and auxiliaries were deployed last Friday to secure the activity.
