MANILA – In what could be a 360-degree turn from his earlier statements, President Rodrigo Duterte issued a warning against the public not to kill the bishops and priests.
In a speech in Pasay City on Monday, Duterte said he has received a message from Manila Archbishop Luis Cardinal Tagle saying that several bishops and priests have been receiving death threats from someone claiming to be related to Duterte.
“Ang sagot ko ganito, ‘yang aming away ko sa Katoliko amin lang ‘yan personal. Kayong mga adik, ‘wag ninyong totohanin ‘yong pukpokin ‘yung bishop at kardinal, hindi sila kasali sa political ruckus,” Duterte said.
“Ako I was just responding, sinagot ko lang pari na mamatay na kayo. Pero wag niyo talaga patayin mga obispo, at pari. It is not allowed. ‘Pag ginawa mo ‘yan, ako mismo kalaban mo, kasi ginawa mo ‘yan para siraan ako,” he added.
Duterte’s latest pronouncement was reversal from his remark in December last year when he suggested that bystanders rob and kill Catholic bishops who he called “useless.”
Duterte previously launched a series of tirades against bishops, Catholic Church officials, and religion itself, including when he said that Catholic beliefs are “archaic” and people should instead build their own chapels at home.
The President also accused Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of “asking for contributions” and insinuated that the latter was involved in illegal drugs. David earlier slammed both allegations./PN
