Duterte says he never threatened Tagle

December 19, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte has said that he never threatened Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, who came out with a homily that those in power should not bully others.

"They say I shouldn't threaten Bishop Tagle. When have I ever done that?" Duterte said in a speech in Davao City on Tuesday night.

Tagle, in a homily on Sunday during the Simbang Gabi at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila, has said that the bully who uses power to belittle his fellow man is the one who is "most afraid and insecure."

The prelate did not name any official who is engaged in bullying.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo expressed belief Duterte was not being alluded to by Tagle in the homily.

But Duterte said, "And the priest who...they always criticize me for being a bully."

"To get back at them I'll say, 'Okay, kill all the bishops who are inutile.' They also said I'm a devil," he said.

Duterte said using religion as a platform to attack a person is wrong.

"Because of the separation of church and state, we will never reach an understanding. We will never come to terms. The government is difficult to navigate," he added.

The Catholic Church has been raising concern over the bloody war on drugs.

Over 5,000 individuals have been killed in the government's fight against illegal drugs since July 1, 2016 up to November 30 this year. Celerina Monte/DMS