By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Sunday said people should stop using his name to intimidate Church leaders, especially Catholic priests.
“Do not touch the priests. They [have] nothing to do with politics,” he said in his remarks in a campaign rally led by the PDP-Laban in Cebu City.
“Either Muslims or Christians, they [have] nothing to do with us. Do not do it. Do not try to do it. Ang (The) religious [leaders] have nothing to do with the vagaries of life. Lay off! Stop threatening them or ako ang makalaban ninyo (I will be your enemy),” he added.
Mr. Duterte himself has repeatedly attacked Catholic bishops who have been critical of his administration’s war on drugs and his remarks against women.
He even said in a speech last January that bystanders should kill or steal from rich bishops.
In the middle of his speech in Cebu City last Sunday, “the President read to the public the message he received from Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle concerning an anonymous individual using the President’s name and his family to threaten Catholic leaders,” the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said in a press release on Monday, Feb. 25.
“Good day po, greetings from Rome. I was informed that Bishop David and some priests got death threats from someone claiming to be working for the President’s family. Just to let you know, baka may naninira (maybe someone is trying to harm his reputation). Thanks, we pray,” the message said as read by the President.
The President also read his camp’s reply to the message: “Wala po ganun (No such plot) Cardinal. Salamat (Thank you). Just to let you know that there are persons using the name of the President and his family.”
The President also told his audience: “Oras na galawin ninyo ang mga madre o pari o imam… wag niyo silang galawin (Once you touch nuns or priests or imams… do not touch them). Those are religious people. Kilala man ninyo yan (You know who they are). Tayo mag-enkwentro diyan (We’ll end up in an encounter). Wala silang kinalaman (Religious leaders have nothing to do with it).”
