‘Creeping influence’
Duterte says influence of faith derails government programs
AMID his supposed respite from criticizing the Catholic Church, President Rodrigo Duterte slammed Wednesday, July 4, the “creeping influence” of religion that derails the implementation of the government’s “good” policies and programs.
Duterte lamented that the government could not fully implement programs that would be beneficial to the Filipino people, including the practice of family planning through the use of artificial birth control methods, because of the “objection” of some religious groups.
The President did not mention specific religion to avoid sowing further rift with the church.
“Yesterday, I read somebody said that we have to implement the family planning. Alam mo sa totoo lang, the family planning (You know, frankly, the family planning) -- with due respect, ayokong makipag-away (I do not want to pick a fight) -- it has something to do with the objection of religions, not all,” Duterte said in a speech delivered in Quezon City.
“I would not mention the faith because again I do not want to quarrel with them. Wala ka mang makuha dito sa mga gagong ito, puro salita lang (You will not get anything from those stupid [people]. They just keep on yakking),” he added.
In his previous speeches, Duterte singled out the Catholic Church as the sole religious group that is the subject of his verbal tirades because of its strong opposition to his policies and programs, especially his brutal crackdown on illegal drugs.
The President’s latest remark came just five days ahead of his scheduled dialogue with Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Archbishop Romulo Valles on July 9, in a bid to mend his strained ties with the Catholid Church.
Duterte, while refusing to make reference to the Catholic Church, slammed its “hypocrisy” for depicting him as a “bad guy.”
“It’s because too much influence kaya talaga pumapalag ako. Because I have a history of it, so I know the hypocrisy so medyo ano ako --- tapos ngayon, ganon na lang ang ano nila sa akin (that’s why I am somehow --- and now, I know they are against me). Not now, even before the elections. I was the bad guy hanggang ngayon (until now),” Duterte said.
“At napuno na talaga ako, ayun bumwelta ako. At kung bumwelta ako, bastos na. At ang bunganga ko talaga, bastos na dati (I have had enough. That’s why I respond back. And if I respond back, I’m rude. And I am really badmouthing even before),” he added.
On Tuesday, July 3, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte could not be blamed over his antiCatholic remarks, since it was the church leaders who started the feud with the President. (SunStar Philippines)