He may have often lashed out at some Catholic bishops for alleged abuses but President Duterte still considers himself a “deeply religious” man.
Appearing on the television program of his friend evangelist Apollo Quiboloy yesterday morning, the President admitted that he reads the Bible as his “guiding light” and may even have a “special bond” with the Lord.
“You might think that just because I quarrel with the cardinals and bishops that I am irreverent, I could be a sacrilegious guy, hindi kaya. Kilala ako ni Pastor I am a deeply religious person, sa totoo lang. And my guiding light, alam ni Pastor, is the Bible,” he said.
Duterte also mentioned anew his favorite book of Ecclesiastes about the time for everything and urged the public to read and understand the Bible verses, too.
“If you can memorize by heart and understand Ecclesiastes 3, you can face any problem. You might not be able to solve it but you can understand why. Read Ecclesiastes when you have a problem,” he said.
“When someone dies in your family, read it. There is time for every season under the Sun. There is live, born, and a time to die,” he said.
Duterte said his special bond with the Lord was mostly due to his mother. He recalled that when he was young, his mother forced him to kneel before the cross as punishment when he misbehaved.
“I was really brought up in a very disciplined environment. You know in a week’s time, may three days ako nakaharap sa altar, kneeling down. Grabe mother ko,” he said.
“I think I have a special bond with Jesus Christ. I told him we are both suffering. I don’t know about yours but me, my mother, I will sue her one day,” he said in jest. (Genalyn Kabiling)