Duterte: I won't apologize over anti-God remarks
"No, I will not do that definitely. Not in the million years," the President told reporters in Panglao, Bohol, when asked if he would apologize for taking a jab at the Catholic Church's beliefs.
On June 22, Duterte questioned the "stupid" God of the Catholic Church for destructing His "perfect" creation of life when He tempted Adam and Eve, the first man and woman he created, to eat the forbidden fruit.
Duterte's remarks earned wide criticisms from various religious groups, prompting him to form a panel that would hold a dialogue with the church leaders to ease the tension with him.
The presidential panel and several religious leaders already began their first meeting on Wednesday, June 28.
On the sidelines of the meeting between the panel and the religious groups, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said God, whom he referred to as "God of Love," needs not Duterte's apology but "healing for everyone."
Duterte stressed that for now, he would be tightlipped with regard to his apparent spat with the Catholic Church.
"You know, God is personal. It is not formed by textbooks. You nurture God as your faith based on the values that you get from life, early on from your parents. That is how you conceived God to be," he said.
"[For now, I would keep my silence] on all, particularly in my rift against the Catholic Church. I have no quarrel with the other but if they want to join the fray, it's fine. I'm here to just... 'Yun ang bisyo ko (It's my habit), from time to time, I shake the tree of the society," he added. (Ruth Abbey Gita/ SunStar Philippines)