The leadership of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's national party has asked the public for understanding over the standard-bearer's remarks in a press conference in which he used an expletive in referring to Pope Francis to drive home a point regarding the traffic situation in the country.

“Kami na lang, on behalf of the party, kami ay humihingi ng understanding na yung kandidato po namin ay ganun talaga ang personality niya and it was so unfortunate nga na naisingit yung undesirable curse words in the same  sentence na nabanggit niya ang pangalan ng Santo Papa,” said Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, the president of the PDP-Laban.

“It was an accident no one intended or anticipated pero nangyari na po yun. We hope for your understanding and we learned a lesson on this incident,” he added.

Pope Francis was not spared in the expletive-laden speech of Duterte Monday.

He said that last January during the visit of Pope Francis, it took him five hours to travel to the airport.

"Sabi ko, 'Bakit?' Sabi sarado na [ang daan]. Sabi ko, 'Sinong darating?' Sabi si Pope. Gusto kong tawagan, 'Pope, p— ina ka, umuwi ka na. 'Wag ka nang bumisita dito," Duterte said.

In a television interview after the PDP-Laban event, Duterte said he is willing to withdraw from the presidential race of Pope Francis would say so.

"I would address myself to the highest hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. If you think I have offended — which, in the first place, I never really meant to do it — kung hindi ninyo ako mapatawad, the hierarchy o yung Vatican, sabihin ninyo: 'We are offended and we demand that you withdraw from the presidential contest.' And I will tomorrow withdraw. Walang problema ‘yan,” he said.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Archbishop Socrates Villegas said Tuesday that he grieved over the remarks of Duterte.

"Is this the leadership by example that Mayor Duterte excites in us? Is this the leadership by example that makes a public official deserving of the title 'Honorable'? I grieve for my country....!" Villegas wrote in a Facebook post.

Party already familiar with Duterte

Asked if any member of PDP-Laban raised a concern on Duterte’s words, Pimentel said they are already familiar with the mayor’s personality.

“Wala po kasi alam naman namin ang personality niya e. Kahit noong kausap namin siya ganun po talaga,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel said Duterte’s use of “undesirable” language in his speech during his proclamation Monday will not affect his chances in the presidential elections.

"That has yet to be seen. Wala tayong study na the majority or plurality will reject you for that, that remains to be seen,” Pimentel said when asked if he thought Duterte’s use of foul language was a form of “self-destruction.”

The senator, however, said he still believed that Duterte should go through the safer course of action which is making Duterte lessen the use of curse words and mention of killings in his statements.

“Pwede naman siyang magpakatututo, be yourself. Kung ang speech ni isang mura wala e hindi na yun Mayor Duterte pero huwag namang 100 (na mura),” he said.

Pimentel is the chairman of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan which has chosen Duterte as its standard bearer in the 2016 elections.

He said they have been advising Duterte to watch his words and they believe he has learned his lesson and will be able to do it when the official campaign period starts next year.

“In due time you will see the adjustments kasi syempre for 20 plus years e local politics po yun, yun ang nakasanayan niya, very colorful language at the local level. In February, dito sa formal campaign magagawa niya. I’m sure that we have all learned a lesson from yesterday’s incident,” he said.

He added that since Duterte is already 70 years old, they are no longer expecting him to radically change his ways but they expect him to lessen his curse words.

“Tandaan mo Duterte is 70 years old, hindi na po namin maasahan ang bagong ugali so bawas bawasan na lang. Ang sinasabi ko sa inyo a speech without a curse word will no longer be a speech by Mayor Duterte,” he said. -NB, GMA News