Prayer rally for Duterte slated in Talisay City on Saturday

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TALISAY CITY, Cebu — Supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte will gather in a prayer rally on Saturday, July 19, at the Lagtang Gym in Talisay City.

They are calling for Duterte’s release from detention at The Hague and his return to the Philippines.

The rally, organized by a coalition of pro-Duterte groups under the Cebu United Parallel Groups banner, will be held from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. A mass, however, is scheduled at 6 p.m. before the official start of the program. The organizers said the event will be held simultaneously with similar gatherings across the Visayas, Mindanao and in The Hague, where Duterte is currently detained.

Duterte is facing charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity linked to thousands of deaths during his administration’s anti-drug campaign. The ICC issued a warrant of arrest on March 11, citing evidence of extrajudicial killings. Duterte has denied the allegations.

Leading the prayer rally are the Solid Inday Sara core group, Duterte Riders Team and the Philippine Freedom Riders Club, which banded together under the Cebu United Parallel Groups. Organizers described the rally as a collective effort to show support for Duterte amid what they see as continued silence from the national government and refusal by the ICC to act on their appeals.

Dan Salceda Jr. of Cebu for Sara Duterte said that many supporters were dismayed by what they perceived as betrayal by the Marcos administration. He pointed out that Duterte had once ensured that former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was brought home and buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. In contrast, Duterte’s current treatment, Salceda said, is unjust.

Other volunteers said they regretted backing Marcos in the 2022 presidential elections. They recalled their participation in the UniTeam campaign and said they now felt abandoned.

Toto Lacro of the Sara Volunteer Action Group expressed the sentiment of many in their ranks. “Back in 2022, we were part of the UniTeam. Now, it feels like we’re just part of the budol,” he said.

Ahead of the rally, a unity ride will take place starting at 4 p.m. from the Cansaga Bridge. The route will pass through Lapu-Lapu City via the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, then loop back through the old Mandaue-Mactan Bridge, South Road Properties (SRP), and end in Talisay City. Organizers estimated that 600 to 1,000 riders will participate.

Meanwhile, at least 3,000 to 5,000 people are expected to attend the evening rally. Organizers have also arranged a children’s feeding program at the venue from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., which they said is part of their community outreach efforts.

Supporters said they hoped the event would not only send a message to the ICC and Malacañang but also rekindle the national conversation on Duterte’s legacy and treatment.

Organizers noted that the gathering will feature solidarity messages, patriotic songs, and a video greeting from Duterte’s supporters in The Hague. While the program will be mostly prayer-centered, it will also include music and performances by solo artists and a show band. Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro, recently appointed as PDP-Laban Cebu Council head, is expected to attend the event along with the other allies of Duterte. Organizers confirmed they have invited local government officials and parallel groups from northern and southern Cebu. They also noted that Duterte supporters from outside the province have pledged to join the rally.

“We will not be silenced. We stand in prayer and in unity,” said Ian Gacrama, founder of the Philippine Freedom Riders Club, during the press conference.

Organizers said the event is open to the public and encouraged all Duterte supporters to attend, whether or not they belong to any of the core organizations. T-shirts will be provided to participants in limited quantities.

From 2016 to 2022, rights groups estimate up to 30,000 people were killed in drug war-linked operations and attacks, mostly in poor communities. Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, after the ICC enforced its warrant on Philippine soil. His trial is the first time a Philippine president faces international prosecution for alleged human rights abuses.