President Rodrigo Duterte mocked the Catholic belief in saints at a briefing on the effects of Typhoon “Rosita” Thursday in Cauayan, Isabela.
As the briefing drew to a close, the President wished everyone a “Happy All Saints’ Day”–then questioned the holiday.
“Happy All Saints… Catholics are really stupid. Why do we have All Souls’ Day and then also have All Saints’ Day? We don’t even know who these saints are,” he said in Filipino, punctuating his remarks with curses.
“Who are these stupid drunkards? I’ll give you one patron so you won’t get lost. Get a hold of a picture of mine and put it on the altar–Saint Rodrigo,” he said, drawing laughter from the Cabinet members and local officials present at the briefing.
Duterte later visited his family’s mausoleum where his father, Gov. Vicente Duterte, and mother Soledad Duterte were laid to rest.
Before that, he conducted an aerial inspection of Northern Luzon and led a situation briefing to assess the aftermath of Typhoon Rosita.
In his remarks in Isabela, Duterte said everyone has “obligations to the dead,” emphasizing his need to visit his parents’ tomb.
“It’s practically part of the culture but more than that, it’s something that’s very important for us to commune with our ancestors,” he said.
In an official statement earlier in the day, Duterte called on Filipinos to “emulate our saints.”
“I call on the entire nation to honor those who have gone before us in the grace of God. Their legacy remains an important part of who were are today and we have much to gain from their virtuous example,” Duterte’s message read.
READ: Joke only, Palace clarifies ‘Santo Rodrigo’ remarks