President Duterte has warned against harming priests and other religious leaders after Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle reported to him the alleged death threats received by some clergymen.
At the administration’s campaign rally in Cebu City Sunday night, the President cautioned lawless elements to “lay off” the members of the religious sector, saying he would be their enemy if they endanger their lives.
“Do not touch the priests, they have nothing to do with politics. Either Muslims or Christians, they had nothing to do with us,” the President said in Bisaya.
“Do not do it. Do not try to do it. Ang religious has nothing to do with the vagaries of life. Lay off…Stop threatening them or ako makalaban ninyo,” he said. “Oras na galawin ninyo ang mga madre o pari o Imam…huwag ninyo silang galawin. Those are religious people. Kapag ginalaw ninyo ‘yan, tayo mag-enkwentro diyan,” he added.
The President bared that Tagle sent a text message about the death threats received by Bishop Pablo David and some priests supposedly coming from someone claiming to be working for his family.
The Cardinal’s message, sent through former Palace aide Christopher Go, was read by the President during the rally.
“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. Thanks,” Duterte said, quoting Tagle’s text message.
He also read Go’s reply to the cardinal that belied the President’s involvement in any attempt to harm the priests. Go told Tagle that some persons might just be using the President’s name to make such threats.
“Wala pong ganoon cardinal,” the President, said reading Go’s text reply. “Just to let you know there are persons using the name of the President and his family to threaten kaya dapat ninyo malaman. Ingat po,” he added.
The President made the rare defense of the bishops even after his repeated tirades against the alleged corruption and abuses hounding the Catholic Church. (Genalyn Kabiling)
