ROQUE: CHURCH AGREES TO WORK WITH GOV’T FOR PEOPLE’S BENEFIT

THE Church has agreed to cooperate with President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration for the own good of the Filipino people, Malacañang said on Saturday, June 30.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the agreement was reached during his “noholds-barred” dialogue with Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Girodano Caccia on Friday night, June 28 that took an hour.

“In my meeting with the Papal Nuncio [last] night, it was agreed that both State and Church should work together for the benefit of the people,” the Palace official said in a statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte was invited by the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines to attend the celebration of Pope’s Day at the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila on Friday.

The President skipped the event, as he went to Leyte to visit the wake of six slain cops who died in a misencounter with soldiers in Sta. Rita, Samar.

Duterte instead sent his committee for church dialogue, including Roque, on his behalf.

Roque said he had discussed with the Papal Nuncio the possible meeting between Duterte and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

“It was also agreed that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will have oneon-one dialogue with the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines,” he said.

“The Papal Nuncio also welcomes further meetings with [Duterte],” Roque added.

Duterte recently made headlines after he repeatedly called the Catholic Church’s God as “stupid” and questioned its religious beliefs.

Duterte refused to apologize over his antiGod remarks, but formed a four-man panel that would hold a dialogue with religious groups, including the Catholic Church, to ease the tensions between the church and his government. SunStar Philippines