Palace defends: Tagle not referring to Duterte

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over the Executive Session with the Local Government Officials of Sulu and military commanders at the Capitol Site in Patikul, Sulu on March 26, 2018. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Malacañang through Presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo defended that Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle’s “arrogant king” remark was not referring to the President and his administration.

“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 said on March 26.

He then added that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is a “very humble person” that has a soft heart that “outraged by any kind of assault on any person or human rights violations.”

Tagle started the Holy Week on Palm Sunday by sharing a homily that branded political leaders as arrogant kings and their followers as blinded. He, however, did not drop any names or hinted any persons. Tagle focused his message to his listeners to recognize Jesus Christ as the true king.

(Read: Tagle slams leaders as Holy Week starts)

“Sa mundo natin ngayon, namamayagpag ang mga haring puno ng kayabangan, kapos sa kapakumbabaan. Sa panahon natin ngayon, kay dami-raming sumusunod sa mga hari na ang ginagamit ay dahas, armas, pananakot – kapos na kapos sa pag-unawa at pakikiisa sa mga mahihina (In our world today, those in power are kings full of arrogance, lacking in humility. In our time, a lot are following these kings who use violence, arms, terror – lacking in understanding and unity with the oppressed),” part of his homily said.

In response to this, Panelo also said, “We have no initiated violence against innocent people. The police officers only respond to any assault on their lives in the process of arrest. And the President, as always, would not tolerate any police abuse.”

“He keeps on saying that there will be hell to pay if any violation of human rights is done by any police officer. So, I think Cardinal Tagle is referring to world leaders who are violent and cocky,” the chief legal counsel added.