Thousands of supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte filled the Davao Coastal Road on Friday for the event dubbed “Limang Buwan, Isang Sigaw: Free Duterte Concert,” a gathering that doubled as a call for his return to the country.
The concert, staged by allies and loyalists, carried a strong political message amid Duterte’s continued detention under the International Criminal Court (ICC). Attendees waved banners and chanted for the former leader’s release while live performers entertained the crowd.
Members of the Duterte family also stood in solidarity with the gathering. His grandsons, acting Vice Mayor Rigo Duterte and Congressman Omar Duterte, were both present, drawing cheers from the audience as symbols of the family’s resilience.
The event was streamed live online, with videos showing the crowd chanting “Free Duterte” in unison—underscoring the movement’s urgency and emotional weight.
Duterte’s supporters framed the gathering not merely as a show of loyalty but as a plea to allow the former president to come home while awaiting his ICC proceedings. His legal team, only days before the concert, had formally sought interim release from detention, insisting that he be allowed to return to the Philippines pending the scheduled confirmation of charges hearing on September 23, 2025.
