Palace to priest who wished Duterte ill: You’re a disgrace
MALACAÑANG on Friday, September 7, slammed the priest who cracked a joke against President Rodrigo Duterte during a Mass held in support of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Fat her Noel Gatchalian, in a mass celebrated for the embattled senator on Thursday, September 6, quipped that he prayed for the 73-year-old Chief Executive to get sick.
In a press conference in Jordan, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. hit back at Gatchalian, whom he branded as a “disgrace” to the Church.
“Kakaiba po iyan [ na] galing sa isang pari. Hindi ko po alam kung anong pananampalataya ng paring iyan, pero ang Kristiyano po, hindi magdadasal para magkasakit ang isang tao. Nakakahiya ka po, Father,” Roque told Gatchalian.
(It’s odd that it came from a priest. I don’t know what that priest believes in, but a Chirstian does not pray for a person to get sick. You’re a disgrace, Father.)
“Siguro po, umalis ka na sa pagiging pari (Perhaps, you should retire from being a priest). It does not speak well of the Christian faith,” he added.
The Mass officiated by Gatchalian was celebrated three days after Duterte issued Proclamation 572, which declared the amnesty granted to Trillanes as void from the very beginning and ordered the senator’s arrest.
During the Mass, Gatchalian reportedly said: “Noon pong marami nang kaguluhan ang nangyayari, na winawalanghiya pati ang ating relihiyon, binabastos pati ang ating Diyos, sinasabi ng ating Simbahan na magdasal, sabi ko, o sige, magdasal. Kaya pinagdasal ko na magkasakit si Digong (Duterte).”
(When our religion was slammed and our God was direspected, our Church told us to pray. I said, okay, I’ll pray. So I prayed that Digong [Duterte] would get sick.”
“Hindi ba sabi niya pagod na siya? Eh di magpahinga muna siya. *Didn’t he say that he is already tired? Let him rest),” he added.
Duterte on August 14 revealed his intent to step down from office, saying that he was “tired” in trying to address the rampant corruption in government.
On September 19, or five days after Duterte’s remarks, communist founder Jose Maria Sison spread rumors that the Chief Executive was comatose.
Duterte, however, belied the allegation on August 20, assuring the public that he is “alive” and “fairly healthy.” (Ruth Abbey Gita/ SunStar Philippines)