Tagle’s homily on ‘violent, cocky kings,’ not about Duterte–Panelo

Presidential chief legal counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo expressed confidence that Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle was not referring to President Rodrigo Duterte when he warned about leaders who are “violent and cocky.”

The Archbishop has said in his Homily on Palm Sunday that the world today is dominated by kings filled with arrogance and short of humility who use violence, weapons, and threat.

But the president’s top legal counsel said Tagle’s remark was not about Duterte but of the “world leaders.”

“I’m sure he is referring to world leaders not from this country. I don’t think this administration feels alluded to or the leaders in this administration. Because I think the actions of this administration speak for themselves,” Panelo told reporters.

“The administration has not initiated violence against innocent people and that police officer only respond to any assault on their lives in the process of arrest, and the President, as always, would not tolerate any police abuse,” Panelo said, referring to the alleged human rights violation committed under the Duterte administration.

“So I think Cardinal Tagle is referring to world leaders who are violent and cocky. Apparently not President Duterte. It’s out of character,” Panelo added.

Furthermore, he stressed that “Duterte is a very humble person, he is a soft-hearted person who is outraged by any kind of assault on any person, on human rights violations.”

(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 03/ 27 /18)