PRRD only threatens criminals, not bishops, priests: Palace

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the Barangay Summit on Good Governance Region 11, held at the RMC Petro Gazz Arena in Davao City on December 18, 2018. KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday said only criminals, and not religious leaders, are the recipients of threats coming from President Rodrigo D. Duterte.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo defended Duterte from critics saying the Chief Executive has even changed his tune by warning against the killing of priests and bishops.

“He (Duterte) was not threatening anyone. When he makes comments, he creates certain situations either to make people laugh or to stress a message but he doesn’t threaten people,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“He only threatens criminals — only the criminals, the corrupt, the evildoers, the scoundrels, the dregs of society. Not the priests, not the bishops, not anyone,” he added.

He explained Duterte’s rhetoric never encouraged the killing of clerics since drug addicts who murdered them do not need any encouragement to kill.

“If one is a drug addict, it doesn’t matter to him who endorsed. You know, drug addicts are crazy. Their brains have been affected so there is no need for encouragement from anyone to do something bad against a person,” Panelo said.

Panelo further said that it is only the opposition and Duterte’s critics who take his remarks about killing and robbing bishops living in luxury seriously when it was only meant to be a “hyperbole.”

He clarified that while Duterte’s previous remark should be treated as hyperbole, his recent statement warning against the killing of clerics is “serious” talk.

“That’s just a hyperbole. Meaning it’s just a criticism. Which is precisely why he warned those who will harm the priests. This President is outraged by any kind of irregularity of violation of law or any threat made against any person,” Panelo said.

He pointed out that the opposition and his critics should be blamed for encouraging the killing of clerics.

“If it’s a hyperbole then it’s not an encouragement. It is only the opposition and the critics who make it so. That is precisely why they should be blamed for that, not him,” Panelo said.

“Critics are making it bad by viewing it different. A joke perceived by jokes to be many and yet the critics and the opposition would convert it into serious matter,” he added.

Duterte’s style

Panelo emphasized that the public is already used to the President’s style and saw no problem with his controversial statements against members of the Catholic Church.

“Our countrymen have been used to the President’s style in delivering his responses, his remarks. So I don’t see any problem with that,” Panelo said.

Panelo also reiterated that priests and bishops should not use the pulpit to criticize the President or wish him ill because it is “inconsistent” with the Church’s teachings.

“What actually the President wants is that if you’re a priest and you teach the teachings of Christ, be consistent. So when you pray for the death of one person, you become inconsistent,” Panelo said.

Panelo was referring to Fr. Noel Gatchalian, who in a mass for Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on September 6, 2018, quipped that he had prayed for the President to get sick.

He said Duterte has always used “hyperbole” to speak against certain groups or people but noted it should not carry weight.

“You see the dramatic difference between that priest and this person. If he’s cracking jokes, it’s a joke. It should not carry weight with respect to serious concerns,” Panelo said.

“It would be out of character for a priest while this President is not out of character because that is his style,” he added.