Palace challenges priests to prove gov’t, Duterte behind their death threats

March 13, 2019

Malacanang dared on Wednesday the priests to prove that the government or President Rodrigo Duterte was behind the death threats against them.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was reacting on the statement made by Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Permanent Committee on Public Affairs, who first challenged the government to prove that it was not behind the threats being received by some members of the clergy.

"Suffice it to state that it is elementary in law that the one who alleges must prove," said Panelo, who is also the chief presidential legal counsel.

"Since the priests are the ones accusing the government or the President as being behind those death threats, it stands to reason that they have to prove their accusation. The burden of proof lies on them," he added.

Panelo also advised the priests who have been receiving the death threats to bring their concern officially to any law enforcement agency so that investigation could be conducted and at the same time security could be provided.

At least three Catholic priests, critical of the Duterte administration due to its bloody war on drugs, have disclosed that they have been receiving death threats.

Duterte, in his previous speeches, said that the priests and bishops who have been using the pulpits to criticize him were better off killed.

Panelo has said that Duterte's statement should not be taken seriously, noting that the President himself had warned those who would hurt the prelates that they would be held accountable. Celerina Monte/DMS