Instead of lambasting President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks, Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos should act more Christian-like by praying for the Chief Executive, the Palace said on Tuesday after Santos called Duterte’s presidency a disgrace and a disappointment to the country.
Meanwhile, Novaliches Bishop-Emeritus Teodoro Bacani Jr. challenged Duterte to walk the streets without his bodyguards to protect him.
“My challenge to President Duterte is to do what we are doing if he is really brave,” Bacani said.
His dare came after Duterte’s recent remarks urging the jobless people to rob and kill Catholic bishops because they had plenty of money.
Expressing sadness over Santos’ “unfortunate” views, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Santos may also fit the definition of disgrace.
“What is a disgrace is when a member of the clergy uses unsavory language against President Duterte who only fulfills and complies with his constitutional mandate to lead the government in serving the Filipinos and protecting them from what bedevils our society,” Panelo said in a statament.
“I wonder if he has asked himself, ‘What is a disgrace?’ One who is a member of the clergy making unsavory language against a man or against the President who is only doing his constitutional duty to serve and to protect the people? Or one, like the President who instead of throwing mud, would rather smile and joke about it?” Panelo told reporters.
“If someone throws stones at you, then throw a piece of bread in return. That’s a Christian doctrine and that is a teaching of the Church. It appears that the good bishop is not practicing what he teaches and what he has learned in the seminary.
“The good bishop, I think, is misinformed of the survey results, which shows that majority of the Filipinos accept the style of governance of the President. And his style of delivering speeches is factored in that survey. So either he is misinformed, not informed, or he is ignoring the results.
“Rather than lambaste the President, it would be more Christian-like to pray for the one whom you feel to be sinning against whatever doctrines you had in mind.”
Panelo said the Church should lead in the prayers for the success of Duterte in his presidency.
“We must remember that all of us are parts of one whole… The success of President Duterte is the success of the whole nation,” Panelo said.
In an interview with Church-run Radio Veritas, Santos viewed Duterte’s presidency as both a disappointment and a disgrace to the country, infamously known for its “kill, kill, kill” policy.
The Catholic bishop was reacting to the President’s recent attacks against the prelates, saying that loiterers should kill and steal from “rich bishops.”
Furious, Santos said Duterte must be criticized for his remarks, urging those who are near the President to correct his scathing rhetoric.
“It is high time that those who are close to him must correct him, advise him of good manners because his words instill hatred and create division and fear,” Santos said.
“And his ‘fans’ consider his murderous words as a mere joke! Is it a joke to advise people to kill? There should be a mass movement among decent Filipinos to make him desist from speaking like a devil. Let us do something to make him stop this evil!” “‹