The constant rain is not the heavens crying. It is from the bad weather the country is experiencing in the last few days. But there is a continuing fallout from President Duterte’s “God is stupid” remark. Brother Eddie Villanueva, head of the Jesus Is Lord movement, reminded Mr. Duterte that he was elected leader of all the Filipino people—Christians, Catholics and Muslims.
Brother Eddie who lost a presidential run is a known ally of the President. His son, Senator Joel Villanueva is also aligned with the Duterte administration. Father and son now appear to be drifting away from Duterte. One may not agree with Bro. Eddie but like others who believe in God, he is expressing what many of us who feel offended and aghast about the Duterte remark.
Some may say the President is exercising his freedom of expression. But even this freedom carries with it a certain responsibility which is to respect other people’s religious beliefs.
“President Duterte is supposed to be the leader of all the Filipino people and he must therefore respect all religions and not desecrate any belief,” said Villanueva, adding calling God stupid is blasphemy of the highest order.
During an interview with Karen Davila on ANC TV, the evangelist, whose Jesus is Lord movement has millions of followers, said the President violated the Constitution which stipulates respect for all religions. Bro. Eddie called on Mr. Duterte to apologize to God. He urged the people to speak out against the insult to God.
The Palace has said the President would not apologize. This comes as no surprise considering Mr. Duterte is not known for repentance. His virulent expletives and mocking manner rules out repentance and regret. Malacañang, nonetheless, announced the creation of a special group to dialogue with the Church and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. If not the fear of God, President Duterte, it seems, is afraid of what a widespread backlash from the populace can do to his presidency. For sure the President’s supporters and those with lines to the Presidential Miscommunications Office of Secretary Martin Andanar will belittle any people upheaval.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, legal counsel Salvador Panelo and a few misguided members of media think they can mollify the offended Christian flock. But they only succeeded to make matters worse with their fudged explanations of the President’s offensive remark. Roque tried to justify the President’s utterances by tracing his anti-Church and anti-God attitude to his being molested by a priest when Digong was a young man. Duterte has not identified that priest who allegedly fondled him.
Roque did not elaborate whether the molestation experience left an emotional scar on his President. But quite obviously, that was the impression give-’em-hell Harry wanted to convey.
“Your god is not my god. My god is a perfect god and has common sense,” intoned the President in his shocking remark. But who’s really stupid? The President who uttered a stupid remark or his “perfect god” that created him and 16 million Filipinos who made the mistake of voting him into office?
This is an imperfect world. But let us respect each other’s belief whether it is perfect or not, fallible or infallible. When someone speaks in gutter language, others will react and defend that which they hold sacred.
If for example your deity is the god of darkness, the devil or Satan, that’s your prerogative. I’ll leave you to your own device and belief as long as you don’t attack my God. In the same manner, I will not call Allah stupid. I will not say that Muslims’ belief that terrorists who murder innocent civilians will go to heaven with seven virgins waiting on them is a folly.
Someone with political acumen said Duterte is really a smart politician. The President, according to this observer, created another distraction to draw the attention away from that inappropriate kiss on the lips of a Filipina worker in Seoul.
But Digong might not be that smart after all. He created a bigger controversy that can only add to a gathering political storm.
Whatever god you believe in, let us all pray that peace comes to our deeply divided country.