Progressive groups members gathered at Liwasang Bonifacio on March 28 to light candles—not to celebrate Rodrigo Duterte’s birthday but to remember his gravest crimes against the Filipino people. They called for Duterte to be convicted now that he is under the International Criminal Court jurisdiction for his crimes against humanity. They also expressed hope that nine of Duterte’s co-perpetrators in these crimes, especially Ronaldo Bato de la Rosa and other butcher police chiefs, would soon be arrested.

Foremost among the attendees to the protest were families of victims of extrajudicial killings, farmers from the protest camp in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform, students, teachers, and others.

“Many of us are waiting for justice for our loved ones who were killed while you were still president. You are only at the first step of accountability,” Nanay Dahlia, a victim’s mother, said. “At 80 years old, you have lived far longer than our children who died because of your ‘war against drugs’.”

Another victim’s mother Nanay Emily Soriano also celebrated her birthday on the same day. “Duterte and I share the same birthday, but our wishes today are different. While he surely wishes for his freedom, I only wish for justice. Duterte’s family is lucky to still have him. But for us, families and victims of the war on drugs, no one is left to call us ‘Mama’ or ‘Papa’ because they are gone, our loved ones are gone—killed by Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’,” she said.

“We will not celebrate the birthday of a murderer,” declared Kilusang Mayo Uno. “Our candles symbolize our continuing struggle to achieve complete justice.” KMU and other groups called “Hold Duterte accountable!” alongside demands for Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s accountability and Sara Duterte’s removal from office.

“Workers demand accountability for policies that worsened workers’ and citizens’ lives,” KMU stated. “Workers demand accountability for his killing of 68 workers, unionists, and organizers who advocated for workers’ rights and welfare amid the poverty his regime caused.”

“Duterte’s rule will be remembered for unbridled human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, and systematic oppression of exploited sectors, especially women, youth, and the poor,” Gabriela said. “It was also a time of severe and widespread violence against women, sexism, and misogyny—perpetrated directly by Duterte himself.”

According to Gabriela, Duterte’s words against women were not mere insults but gave confidence to those in power—especially police and military personnel—to violate women’s rights across the country without accountability.

Indigenous peoples under Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas also joined the protest. For them, one of Duterte’s leading crimes was the widespread bombing in Marawi City that destroyed the city and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents.

Drivers and operators of traditional jeepneys were also present; they have been fighting for eight years against Duterte’s deceptive “transport modernization” program that promoted jeepney phaseout to allow large companies to take over their routes and pave the way for dumping used but expensive imported “modern jeepneys.”

Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidates also participated in the protest.

“Today we stand to demand justice for all his victims—not just those under Oplan Tokhang but also victims of all forms of violations including extrajudicial killings, bombings, harassment, torture, and subservience to foreign interests,” coalition president and one of its senatorial candidates Liza Maza said.

Overseas, Bayan-Europe launched the Duterte Accountability Campaign Network in The Hague, The Netherlands on March 28. National-democratic organizations and other groups in Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Rome, and other countries in Europe expressed solidarity with this initiative.

Migrant workers questioned calls from Duterte’s camp for a “Zero Remittance Week,” or halting OFWs’ remittances to their families in the Philippines as a form of support for Duterte.

Instead, they called for support for OFWs’ rights and welfare—not for a murderer.