Bishop David urges Pinoys to pray for Duterte for he is ‘a very sick man’

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte checks the condition of the wounded soldier before awarding the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kampilan during his visit at Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Brgy. Patag, Cagayan de Oro City on October 31, 2018. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David invited the public to offer prayers for the country’s leader, President Rodrigo Duterte, whom he called as “a very sick man.”

David said this in a Facebook post on Friday, November 2, as he reminded Filipino Catholics that “Jesus taught us to be merciful when dealing with sick people.”

“I think it should [be] obvious to people by now that our country is being led by a very sick man. We pray for him. We pray for our country,” he said.

The Caloocan Bishop made his statement after Duterte, on All Saints’ Day on Thursday, November 1, branded saints as “gago (fools)” and “lasenggo (drunkards).”

“Sabagay itong t****** talaga itong mga Katolikong p***. Bakit naman may All Souls’ Day tapos may All Saints’ Day? Hindi nga natin alam kung sino ‘yang mga santo na ‘yon (Well, these Catholics are crazy. Why do they have All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day? We do not even know who those saints are),” the President said as he was wrapping up a situation briefing in the aftermath of Typhoon Rosita in Isabela province.

He then jested that he would give the Filipinos one “patron” saint so they won’t have to go to places.

“Get hold of a picture of mine. ‘Yan ang ilagay niyo sa altar (That is what you put on the altar) — Santo Rodrigo,” he said.

In his statement, David said there is “nothing new” about the saints being labeled as such because even St.

John the Baptist was called “devil-possessed,” the apostles at Pentecost were called “drunkards,” and Jesus himself was described as a “glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”

He added that to be a Christian, is to be “ready to be branded as a ‘fool for Christ.'”

The Chief Executive’s remarks at the briefing was contrary to his official message released by Malacañang where he urged the public to “emulate our saints.”

“Their legacy remains an important part of who we are today and we have much to gain from their virtuous example,” his message read.

Duterte earlier drew flak in this predominantly Christian country after he called God “stupid” and questioned the concept of “original sin” in the Bible’s creation story.