A Catholic prelate says it was President Duterte’s conscience, not God, that asked him to stop cursing.
“It was the voice of his conscience. His conscience was bothering him,” Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said in an interview.
Bastes said that only “holy and mystic” persons have the privilege of talking to God.
Fr. Jerome Secillano of the Nuestra Senora del Perpetuo Socorro Parish in Manila welcomed Duterte pledge that he won’t curse anymore. “It is good that he realizes the need to change for the better,” he said.
“I think what should be lauded is not the promise but the fulfillment of such promise,” added Secillano. At the end of the day, he said as a leader, Duterte should “walk the talk.”
On Thursday upon his return to the country from China, Duterte said he made a promise to God that he would stop cursing.
The Chief Executive said he heard God’s voice while on a plane back to hometown Davao City. “I was looking at the skies as I was coming over here. And I…everybody was asleep, snoring. A voice said that you know ‘If you don’t stop, I will bring this plane down now.’ And I said, who is this? Of course, it’s God. Oh, OK. So, I promised God not to express slang, cuss words,” Duterte said. (Leslie Anne G. Aquino)