DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) scored the latest remark of President Rodrigo Duterte against the church and bishops, saying his tirades “it deliberately persuades religious differences and amplifies disrespect and violence among the people.”
In a statement PCPR said the chief executive’s statement is no joke and never “should be considered as one, especially with the ‘bloody’ human rights record of the Duterte administration.”
“Without amour as a nation’s father, his words do not even attempt to promote unity and to resolve any single social problem,” PCPR said in a statement.
PCPR feared that Duterte’s provocation could lead to actual and possible threats and harassments, and physical attacks against church leaders, noting the cases of killings of against clergy and church workers.
“…his rants were so scandalous that it smokescreens and conceals horridly his administration’s neglect of its responsibilities to the people and its plans that poses even graver danger to the nation and our future. His administration has mastered the use of sloppy propaganda and diatribe to conceal and route its agenda from all rational discussion and criticism,” PCPR said.
“Worse, he resorted to inciting violence and to inducing its forces to commit more crimes aimed at the people, including church people,” it added.
PCPR also claimed that Duterte’s tirade against the church was “part of the systematic attack against those who work to build a better society for the Filipinos and those who criticize the unacceptable, anti-people policies of the present administration.”
On Monday, Malacañang defended Duterte’s tirades against the Catholic Church as a “self-defense” in the part of the chief executive.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo quoted Duterte saying he’ll be responding to the “attacks” of the clergymen in pulpits, using the President’s office.
“If you can unleash tirades against the President then be ready to receive some in return,” Panelo said.
Panelo reiterated that it is just the “style” of the President and what he said was meant to criticize bishops who “are living in comfort and yet people are wallowing in poverty.” (davaotoday.com)
