CBCP head said he is willing to meet Duterte

July 9, 2018

The head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said he will be willing to meet President Rodrigo Duterte when he has time.

Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said Monday he hoped the dialogue with Duterte will be a start of “openness” between the Church and State. Valles said he could not meet Duterte.

“It’s supposed to be today. But, I said, let me see. The work at CBCP overflowed into the morning. So let’s see,” Valles said at the post 117th CBCP Plenary Assembly press conference.

Valles said he is coming into the meeting with “openness”.

“We (bishops) did not come up with a list of issues to discuss with the president. But it would be good to know that the meeting is just an initial step of, hopefully, an ongoing listening and openness with one another,” said Valles.

“I would just play it by ear just to show our sincerity, our respect, that we are open to listen to the president and to anyone who would invite us. I have no agenda in my head,” he furthered.

Valles said he agreed to meet with Duterte despite his tirades against God and the Catholic Church since it is part of his mission.

“I said yes because, as a bishop, we are open to listen to one another with respect, with openness that is necessary as a pesona of ordained bishops, which is to always reach out,” the Davao archbishop explained. DMS