MANILA, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' decision to detain former President Rodrigo Duterte and transfer him to The Hague, Netherlands, has sparked significant controversy, prompting his supporters to hold rallies across multiple cities in recent days.
Duterte's supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court in the Philippine capital on Thursday afternoon, lighting candles in hopes of Duterte's return to the Philippines.
On Thursday evening, supporters held a prayer vigil outside Duterte's house in Davao City, a southern metropolis, conveying their message of support for the former president.
On Wednesday evening, over 100 supporters gathered for a prayer rally in the City of San Fernando in Pampanga province. They carried placards and banners with Duterte's face and the words "Justice for PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte)" and held a motorcade-style rally in the city, local media reported.
Veronica Duterte, daughter of the former president, on Friday called on Filipinos to "light a candle" and stand in solidarity.
"I am calling unto you, not as his supporters, but as Filipinos, to stand for what is right and light a candle, whether you are in the Philippines or abroad. Let us be one in prayer and one in upholding our rights to this sovereignty," she wrote in an Instagram story.
Philippine GMA Network reported that Duterte's legal team will be pushing for his temporary release from the International Criminal Court (ICC), as his team holds the belief that there was no reason to detain him during his impending trial.
Duterte, 79, was detained on Tuesday morning upon his return to Manila from abroad, following an arrest warrant issued by the ICC over his "war on drugs" campaign, a move he has questioned.
He was surrendered to the custody of the ICC on Wednesday after being flown from Manila to the Netherlands. ■