‘THANKSGIVING’ RALLY: Vice President Sara Duterte and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, on Sunday take their turns addressing their supporters gathered at Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong’s Wan Chai district. —Screengrab from SMNI Channel video
MANILA, Philippines — “If this is really my fate in life, that’s okay, I will accept it. There’s nothing we can do.”
So said former President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday when he addressed a crowd of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in Hong Kong.
The former President flew to that city, an administrative region of China, on Friday, amid the reported issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC), where Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity in connection with the brutal drug war during his administration.
“If I’m arrested, if I’m detained, so be it,” the former President said.
READ: Duterte expected at PDP sortie in HK; trip stirs buzz of ICC ‘escape’
“I have a lot of cases. I heard I have a warrant issued by the ICC or something. Those sons of bitches have been after me for a long time.”
“What have I done wrong? I did everything during my time so that Filipinos can have some peace and security,” he said.
“Assuming what you [heard] is true, why did I do it? For myself? For my family? No, for you and your children, for our country,” he added, drawing applause and cheers from his audience, who were gathered in this rally called “Thanksgiving to PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) with OFWs.”
Not an election rally
The rally in Hong Kong’s Wan Chai district was supposedly an overseas leg of the PDP-Laban’s election campaign for its senatorial candidates.
But Duterte, the party’s chair, himself noted that he was discouraged by Hong Kong authorities from talking about politics before a public assembly.
“I’m not trying to tell you to vote for this or that. I’ll leave it up to you to decide on your own whatever you believe is good for our country,” he said.
He nevertheless ended his talk by introducing his party’s senatorial candidates, except for Sen. Ronald dela Rosa and televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who were not there. Duterte also endorsed the senatorial bid of Davao City-based pediatrician Richard Mata, bringing to 10 the candidates he is backing.
His flight to Hong Kong drew the expected speculation on social media that he was fleeing from the ICC’s possible issuance of its arrest warrant, especially considering that China is not a member state of the court.
‘The next’ president
His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who also addressed the crowd, recalled a recent visit to Quiboloy, quoting the televangelist as telling her that “I should be the next [president] so that the suffering of our nation will not go on.”
Allies of the Dutertes are framing the midterm elections as a battle to ensure the victory of the Vice President in the 2028 presidential race.
Quiboloy’s Sonshine Media Network International aired the Hong Kong rally on social media.
The televangelist is currently detained over human trafficking charges, while the Vice President is due to face an impeachment trial pending in the Senate.
The younger Duterte told the cheering crowd: “I am thankful that from 2016 to 2025, you are all still here for the country. I would also like to personally thank all of you for your support [of] me and your votes for me during the 2022 elections.”
She added, “And also for your support in the upcoming [2028] elections. Joke only.”
