Duterte wants working relationship with Church

President Duterte is hoping to establish a good working relationship with Church leaders, Malacañang said at the start of the dialogue initiated by the government Wednesday.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said they expect “open, frank and candid” discussions with the religious leaders to address concerns following Duterte’s controversial remarks about the Roman Catholic doctrines.

The government panel formed by the President was scheduled to hold an initial dialogue with the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) on yesterday afternoon.

“Tingnan natin kung paano nga tayo pupuwedeng magkaroon ng working relationships man lang, kung hindi palagi na lang tayong naggiyerahan [Let us see how we can have a working relationship or else we will just always be fighting],” Roque said in a radio interview.

“Tingnan natin kung saan puwedeng magtulungan iyong dalawang institusyon at tingnan natin kung paano maresolba iyong mga hindi pagkakasundo [Let us see where the two institutions can help each other and how to resolve disagreements],” he said.

President Duterte earlier formed a three-man panel to hold a dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church and other religious groups amid the outrage over his “stupid God” statement.

The team includes Roque, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, and EDSA People Power Commission member Pastor Saycon.