Palace says let tirades between Duterte, Catholic Church continue

January 17, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte could not be stopped from hitting the Catholic Church the same way prelates could not be gagged from criticizing the government, Malacanang said on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement when asked if Duterte wants to hear an apology from the Church so there would be an end to the word war between the parties.

"You know, the President cannot be stopped from speaking his mind on any particular manner that to his mind is important. In the same way that you can’t also stop these bishops from speaking themselves," he said in a press briefing.

"Whatever you say, they will speak up. So let's leave it at that," Panelo said.

At least three bishops during the past days have separately attacked Duterte.

Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos earlier called Duterte's presidency a disgrace to the country.

Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani, on the other hand, dared the President to roam around the streets without his Presidential Security Group.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas raised concern Duterte's tirades with the Catholic Church would affect him more as the latter has been there for thousands of years.

"If it (Duterte's criticism) does not affect the church, then that's it. Whatever word war you're going to use, it's like they're just engaged in polemics," Panelo said.

He also told the Church not to meddle on whatever the state would want to do insofar as the welfare of the Filipinos is concerned.

"Don't interfere on the state with respect on the methods that the state has been doing for the good of the country," he said. Celerina Monte/DMS