‘Don’t use God’

Explaining his supposed anti-God rhetoric to Villanueva, Duterte said he could not accept the “improper” behavior of religious leaders who use the pulpit to criticize him and his administration.

“There is a separation of church and state. Do not use God to attack government. That is not proper, and God, I’m sure that is not what God wants — things to happen,” he said.

“Never, never use the name of God as a front to attack government because that is not the proper way to do it,” the President added.

The meeting, which lasted two and a half hours, was held at the Malago Clubhouse inside the presidential complex in Manila, according to Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.

Panelo himself was present at the meeting as well as Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.