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Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech during the proclamation rally for his political party PDP-Laban's senatorial candidates ahead of the midterm elections, at Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines, February 13, 2025. (Reuters/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo)The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the Philippines’ representative office in Taiwan, distanced itself from a gathering of supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained in The Hague.
MECO released a statement on Wednesday, March 19, saying it is “not an organizer, or in any way connected, to the ‘Bring Home FPRRD’ gathering” that his supporters have planned to rally for his return to the Philippines.
FPRRD is short for “Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.”
“Everyone is encouraged to be wary of those spreading false or misleading information as this may affect the Philippines’ good standing here in Taiwan. Thank you,” the office said in a Facebook post.
It also included a Filipino version of the statement below.
Social media posts show Duterte supporters promoting a gathering at Dagangqian Park in Taipei on March 30, particularly “near the MECO TPE office.”
The post invites Duterte’s supporters to rally for his return to the Philippines. They are also told to “bring candles and tarpaulin.”
“Calling all supporters of FPRRD in Taiwan. Let us stand for FPRRD. Bring PRRD home,” the post said.
The post also made its way to Reddit, where some Filipinos questioned if his supporters were not “ashamed” of the initiative.
Duterte is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) Detention Center following his arrest on charges of murder as a crime against humanity.
His arrest is in relation to his administration’s war on drugs campaign that left thousands of Filipinos dead.
Police records place the number of fatalities at over 6,000, but the ICC estimates the figures to be between 12,000 and 30,000 from July 2016 to March 2019.
Duterte is set to appear before the ICC on September 23 for a confirmation of charges hearing, where judges will determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a full trial.
The former president was arrested on March 11 and surrendered to ICC custody on March 12 (Philippine times).
