Team DailyPedia
Presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte has made the news again for another controversial statement. This time he criticized organized religion’s involvement (mainly the outspoken Roman Catholic Church and its leaders) on various socio-political affairs.
Duterte also said that while he does not believe in religion, he is a believer of God.
In an exclusive GMA News TV’s State of the Nation with Jessica Soho interview, the Presumptive President of the Philippines shed light on some of the statements he made after the election and slammed the Roman Catholic church on the various issues it has been involved in.
“For the record, I believe in God, but I do not believe in religions. Period. And the most hypocritical institutions in the Philippines, guess who?” Duterete said.
While the Presumptive President said that he does not believe in religions, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the Iglesia ni Cristo religious groups officially endorsed him as their Presidential candidate for the 2016 national elections.
Duterte earlier drew flack from Roman Catholic leaders and devout followers when he made a “remark” about the Papal visit last 2015. He made it clear that his criticism towards the religion does not focus on that.
“I do not begrudge if the bishops would stick to it. But it is really a separation and they would have to go out if the issue becomes a moral one or if it becomes an interest… Pero kayo bishops, I would like to ask you, kayo ba ay naniniwala sa separation of Church and state?” the incoming President questioned.(“I do not begrudge if the bishops would stick to it. But it is really a separation and they would have to go out if the issue becomes a moral one or if it becomes an interest… but you, bishops, I would like to ask you, do you believe in the separation of Church and state?” the incoming President questioned.)
Duterte then brought up the involvement of some priests in the 2009 incident wherein Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos requested a vehicle for his birthday from former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. There was also an office in Malacanang for “religious and ecclesiastical affairs” during the Arroyo administration which the incoming President found “inappropriate.” Duterete questioned Roman Catholic priests for allowing themselves to be “prostituted.”
“Kasi nung panahon ni Gloria Arroyo…kayong (Roman Catholic leaders and priests) karamihan nanghingi ng sasakyan, mga Montero, and you call that a separation of state? You allowed the prostitution of you,” he emphasized.
[“Because back in the time of Gloria Arroyo… most of you (Roman Catholic leaders and priests) asked for a vehicle (Monteros), and you call that a separation of state? You allowed the prostitution of you,” he emphasized.]
The incoming 2016 President recalled when he was sexually harassed by a Roman Catholic priest back in 1956.
“And the abuses. You asked me publicly to name the priest. So I did. And you said to me, you go to court. Do not cultivate hypocrisy or you will get it. Tatamaan kayo dito,” Duterte said.(“And the abuses. You asked me publicly to name the priest. So I did. And you said to me, you go to court. Do not cultivate hypocrisy or you will get it. You’ll be hit here,” Duterte said.)
Representatives of the Roman Catholic Church or the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have yet to react to Duterte’s statement.
