President’s ‘kill bishops’ remark just for ‘dramatic effect’ – Palace

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo on Thursday said that President Duterte's recent remark to kill bishops is just a hyperbole for ‘dramatic effect’ after the Chief Executive said that people should kill bishops because they do nothing but criticize the government.

In a related development, Roman Catholic Church leaders andf other groups deplored Duterte’s latest attack and scathing remark against religious leaders.

‘Hyperbole’, dramatic effect In his Thursday press briefing, Panelo said that Duterte only meant that the Church should stop criticizing the government's efforts, and instead help the administration address the country's problems.

"I think that's only a hyperbole on the part of the President. We should be getting used to this president. He makes certain statements for dramatic effect. But he actually means stop criticizing and do some good for this country. Help us," Panelo said.

Panelo said that Duterte is not threatening the Church and did not mean what he said.

He explained that Duterte was just expressing his emotions like any ordinary person would when their effort are not being appreciated.

‘Be constructive’ "The President, just like any ordinary human being, is upset when the good things that he does for this country is not even appreciated by people who are supposed to support, like the Church," he said.

"The President is not threatening. What I said is, he has been criticized, and the President is saying that, instead of criticizing, or you can even criticize, but at the same time you give us constructive suggestions," he added.

Church leader’s lament

"This is worrisome coming from a psychotic mind!", Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, said in a statement.

Such provocative statement, he said, should not be taken lightly by the people.

"This should no longer be taken as a joke! His advisers must already give him advice never to utter such kinds of statements! He is really a murderous mad man! No Filipino should take his statements lightly from this time on," said Bastes.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the President’s words make him less of a leader.

"Any leader who asks that others be killed, not even bishops, is no leader at all. He is instigating people to go against the law. Is this not a work of a destabilizer against the social order?" he said.

"I hope he is joking or he is really out of his mind," added Pabillo.

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) has branded as “unacceptable” Duterte’s statement and the branding of the Catholic church as a hyprocritical institution.

FFW president Atty. Sonny Matula said such call is unacceptable in a civilized society.