Dutere supporters rally globally for his release

Supporters of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte held prayer rallies and protests across multiple cities including Manila, Washington D.C., New York City, Sydney, Australia, and parts of Europe on Saturday through Monday to call for his safe return following his arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) earlier this week.

Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa, among other allies of Duterte, attended the Manila event; it was his first public appearance in Metro Manila since Duterte's arrest on Tuesday, March 11.

The ICC arrested Duterte over his controversial drug war that human rights groups estimate led to around 30,000 deaths, and he appeared before the court for the first time via video link on Friday, March 14, at its headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.

In Sydney, more than 500 supporters rallied wearing Duterte's trademark green and white shirts, waving signs and Philippine flags while shouting slogans like 'Bring him home!' and demanding his release from Scheveningen Prison where he is currently detained.

Participants in Washington D.C. and New York expressed their solidarity with Duterte and emphasized their hope for his safe return, while human rights advocates staged protests demanding accountability for alleged extrajudicial killings during his presidency.