Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David revealed that he has been receiving threats to his life, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News reported on Tuesday, February 26.
David, who is the vice president of the CBCP, said he first got a death threat about two weeks ago, adding that he has no idea who might have sent him the message.
The Catholic bishop was supposed to attend the Ka Pepe Diokno Human Rights Award held at the De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila on Tuesday, however, he decided to skip due to the supposed threats he has been receiving. Instead, his brother, sociologist Randy David, showed up in the event.
In his speech, Randy said he got an e-mail from his younger brother on Tuesday midnight, asking him to receive the Ka Pepe Diokno Human Rights Award in his place.
Quoting what the bishop told him, the sociologist said someone advised the prelate not to return to his home yet in Caloocan City.
“Sabi niya, ‘alam mo na siguro kung bakit.’ Sabi ko hindi ko alam pero sige, malaking karangalan [na tanggapin ‘yung award] (He said, ‘you already know why.’ I said I do not know but it is an honor for me to receive the award),” he said.
Randy then read the message of his brother, apologizing for not being able to come to the awarding even though he had earlier gave his word to the organizers that he will attend.
“My mobile phone has been buzzing with text messages written in screaming and intimidating capital letters telling me that I was next in line for execution,” the bishop was quoted as saying.
“Well-meaning friends who worry for my personal safety had advised me not to take these threats to my person lightly. So I’m begging off from today’s event. What was paramount is that I did not want to unnecessarily endanger the lives of those who would accompany me to this venue,” he added.
The prelate’s confirmation came following President Rodrigo Duterte’s warning to the public not to harm the members of the clergy or they will have to ‘face’ him.
Duterte said this after Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, in a text message to former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, reported that some priests have been getting death threats from “someone claiming to be working for the President’s family,” which Duterte denied.
The President has repeatedly launched verbal attacks against the Catholic Church due to its criticisms of his war on drugs.
In December 2018, Duterte said “useless” Catholic bishops who only criticized his administration should just be killed.
[READ: Duterte blasts Church anew, says ‘useless’ bishops should be killed]
He has also singled out David in his tirades, accusing the latter of “stealing” from mass offerings and that the prelate is into illegal drugs. David, however, belied these allegations.
[READ: Bishop David belies Duterte’s ‘stealing’ accusation vs. him]
[READ: Bishop David refutes Duterte’s drug claim: I only take vitamins with fruit shake]