Duterte prioritizing dialogue with bishop

President Duterte is looking forward to his dialogue with the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, on how to enhance cooperation on rendering public service.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the President has always been open to dialogue with concerned groups, adding that his meeting with the CBCP president would be a “priority.”

“Very high ang ating expectations because there’s (a) very good relation between the President of the CBCP and the President of the Republic. Both of whom are natives of Davao,” Roque said during a press conference in Leyte.

Church-Reds

However, Roque also said in the same press conference that Malacañang would not be surprised if some members of the Catholic Church work with the communist rebels to oust President Duterte.

“Alam niyo naman talaga ‘yung patutsada ng Simbahan, eh nagsimula naman ‘yon nung natalo ‘yung kandidato nila noong eleksyon. Tapatan na, Kristiyano naman tayo, bakit pa tayo magpapaligoy-ligoy. Marami po talaga sa Simabahan hindi matanggap na ‘yung kandidato nila talunan (You know, the Church’s criticism is rooted from the defeat of their bet last Presidential elections. Let’s stop beating around the bush, we’re Christians. There really are a lot of people in the Church who cannot accept their bet is a loser),” he said.

“Kaya nga hindi malayo na magkaisa ‘yung ilan sa kanila diyan sa CPP-NPA na patalsikin si Presidente Duterte. Pero ‘yan po ay panaginip (It is not far-fetched if some of them will work with the CPP-NPA to oust the President. But that is a dream),” he added.

Human rights

Meanwhile, Roque dismissed as “simply ridiculous” the Human Rights Watch’s (HRW’s) description of Duterte’s second year in office as a human rights calamity.

He asserted that the government actually continues to uphold and protect civil liberties, from keeping the people safe from crimes and drugs to providing better social services.

“Kalokohan po iyan [That’s ridiculous],” Roque said in a radio interview, when asked to comment to the HRW’s dismal assessment of Duterte’s two-year presidency.