Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) Chief Angel Sumagaysay on Thursday vowed to stand with his office’s crowd estimate of 320,000 during the 80th birthday prayer rally of former President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City on March 28, 2025.
This is contrary to the report of “only” 96,000 total participants from the entire Davao Region during the said activity as claimed by the Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11).
At least 320,000 to 350,000 Duterte supporters swarmed the C.M. Recto Avenue and Roxas Avenue for the former President’s 80th birthday prayer rally. Supporters in green shirts braved the scorching heat as they started gathering as early as 1 p.m. near the Aldevinco shopping center and Marco Polo Davao for the biggest birthday celebration tendered for the former president and Mayor of Davao City dubbed “Rody at 80: Global Filipino Solidarity” prayer rally.
According to Sumagaysay their calculation of the 320,000 figure was based on the venue’s capacity. He said the stretch of C.M. Recto Avenue to Roxas Avenue is approximately 910 meters long, with an area of 16,360 square meters, standing four people per square, the entire stretch has a capacity of roughly 65,000 people.
Sumagaysay said the largest is Roxas Avenue to Quezon Boulevard (both sides of the roads) is 800 meters long towards Magsaysay Avenue; if people standing on the road alone, the area can accommodate more than 102,000 people, excluding the sidewalks.
“Ang computation per square patindugon upat ka tao. Pero didto dunay considerations na dapat i-consider kay wala na include ang sidewalks and other kalsada nga naa sa main event na medyo napuno pud,” he said.
Sumagaysay said the number of participants can be determined also by the drone shots and CCTVs installed in the areas.
Meanwhile, PRO 11 spokesperson Major Catherine dela Rey stated in a press conference that participants in the said rally reached a high of 60,000. However, the “total crowd” across the entire Davao Region—Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, and Davao City, reached 96,100.
