Duterte jokingly asks ‘tambays’ to rob, kill bishops

January 10, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte jokingly told the tambays or street idlers to rob and kill the bishops because they have lots of money.

He cracked the joke amid the criticisms by the Catholic Church on his bloody war on drugs.

"The priests, you know do not use the pulpit," he said, as he quoted the Catholic Church as saying, "We do not like the way Duterte is handling the problem because there are so many persons, innocent (people) are killed."

He also claimed that priests described him as "demonic" and wanted him dead.

"That's why...I said, 'Tambays (street idlers), when the bishops pass by, holdup them because they have lots of money. Kill them," Duterte said.

He added that the bishops were inutile. Celerina Monte/DMS