Duterte to have one-on-one dialogue with CBCP president

President Rodrigo Duterte and Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles will have a one-on-one dialogue, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Saturday.

Roque said this was agreed upon in a "no holds barred" meeting he had with Papal Nuncio Gabriel Giordano Caccia on Friday.

He added that they also agreed that "both State and Church should work together for the benefit of the people."

"The Papal Nuncio also welcomes further meetings with PRRD [President Rodrigo Doa Duterte]," Roque said.

Duterte has formed a three-man committee that will hold a dialogue with the Catholic Church and other religious groups amid intense criticism over the chief executive’s scathing remarks against God and teachings of Christianity, Roque earlier said.

Valles has been quoted by Radio Veritas as saying on Tuesday that listening to one another is always good.

“That is most welcome development. To dialogue, to listen to one another, is always good,” Valles said.

Duterte's recent comments calling God stupid and questioning the creation story in the Bible has earned criticism from many sectors. —KG, GMA News