Duterte remarks vs church did not trigger Jolo blast: Panelo

January 29, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte’s attacks against the Catholic Church has no connection with recent twin explosion that occurred in a cathedral in Jolo last Sunday.

“Definitely not, in fact the president is so outraged. He is so angry that they have not respected the place of worship, that’s why he declared war against this perpetrators,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

Panelo said he does not think Duterte’s criticisms against the church “emboldens” people to disrespect the church.

“Those who will attack places of worship especially the Catholics are doing it because they do not believe in that religion. They are disrespecting precisely the religion,” he said.

“To my mind, apart from challenging the capability of this government to secure the safety of its citizenry, it is also showing its utmost disrespect to this religion,” he added.

He said his statements against the Church can’t be considered as verbal violence.

“It’s still part of freedom of expression. I said, he is not attacking the church, he is just criticizing certain immoral acts of some members of the church,” said Panelo.

Though the explosion that resulted to 21 people dead happened in the vicinity of a church, Panelo said nobody can stop Duterte from saying what is on his mind about certain matters that he feel is wrong.

“As he said: I’m testing the limits of freedom of expression,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS