Rodrigo Duterte has been detained in The Hague for over three weeks due to accusations of crimes against humanity related to his lethal antidrug campaigns in the Philippines. Despite this, he remains on the ballot for the mayorship in his hometown, where political analysts suggest he has a good chance of winning. Duterte’s popularity has sparked support from other candidates in various races. On March 28th, tens of thousands of his followers gathered in Davao City to celebrate his 80th birthday, turning it into a massive political rally. Such rallies were also held in other parts of the Philippines and abroad, including outside the detention center where Duterte is being held. Despite the international scrutiny, Duterte remains popular in Davao, where he is remembered for his tough stance on drugs and crime. Business owners and citizens at the rally showed their support for Duterte and closed their businesses to allow employees to join the event. The rally featured music, local politicians, and a concert that lasted until midnight. As mayor, Duterte was highly regarded, with his time in office resulting in Davao being hailed as a model for safety and discipline. Critics, however, argue that his administration oversaw the normalization of extrajudicial killings. Duterte is accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of running death squads in Davao City, which primarily targeted petty criminals and drug dealers. Besides the Davao City race, Duterte’s candidacy also influences national politics, adding to the complications of political relationships in the Philippines. The rally crowd expressed hope for Duterte’s return, with some calling for his release and support from political figures impacting national election predictions.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/world/asia/duterte-mayor-davao.html