President Duterte said he does not want to fight the Catholic Church but has had enough of the insults hurled against him.
The President expressed dismay that the some priests have prayed for his death so he retaliated by jokingly asking drug addicts to attack the bishops.
“Saan ka dito makakita ng relihiyon, ‘Sana mamatay si Duterte’,” he said during a recent public assembly in Pasay City.
“Ayaw kong makipag-away ng simbahan. I do not want to mess up with it. Pero talagang sobra tayo,” he added.
The President, who previously unleashed profanity-laced rants about the alleged abuses committed by some clergymen, called the priests wishing him ill or dead as “buang” or crazy.
“Ah sabi ko, ‘Sige. Kayong mga durugista na wala kayong pera pangbili ng shabu, ‘pag nakakita kayo ng obispo, patayin ninyo lahat ‘yan. Kunin ninyo ang pera, holdapin ninyo,” he added.
In recent months, the President has stepped up attacks against the Catholic Church in the wake of criticisms on rising death toll linked to the drug war, accusing some priests of alleged involvement in corruption and sexual abuses.
He told the priests not to use the pulpit to attack him because he would not hesitate to retaliate. He previously called the god of his critics as stupid and questioned some church doctrines, including the story of creation and the Holy Trinity. (Genalyn Kabiling)