Duterte defends Catholic priests

“Ayaw na ninyo hilabti ang mga pari (Don’t harm the priests). Wala na silay labot sa politika (They’re not part of politics).”

President Rodrigo Duterte issued this warning on Sunday, Feb. 24, after Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle raised concerns about anonymous individuals using the President and his family’s name to threaten Catholic priests.

Speaking before thousands of Cebuano supporters during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) campaign rally held at the Plaza Independencia last Sunday, Duterte read an excerpt of the text message thread his camp and Tagle had exchanged.

“Good day po, greetings from Rome. I was informed that (Caloocan) Bishop (Pablo Virgilio) David and some priests got death threats from someone claiming to be working for the President’s family. Just to let you know, baka may naninira (maybe someone is trying to ruin your name). Thanks, we pray,” Tagle said in his text message.

The President’s camp replied, “Wala po ganun (There were no such threats), Cardinal. Salamat po (Thank you).”

While he admitted making “colorful” statements against Catholic priests in the past, Duterte stressed that religious leaders should be left out of politics.

“Either Muslims or Christians, they had nothing to do with us. Do not do it. Do not try to do it. Religious leaders have nothing to do with the vagaries of life. Lay off! Do not threaten them or you will make an enemy out of me,” Duterte said in Cebuano.