Duterte takes potshot at Catholic confessional, tells story of sexual abuse

In yet another tirade against the Catholic Church, President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday took a potshot at the confessional of the Catholic Church, and told a story of a confession involving sexual abuse.

In a speech during the awarding of certificates of land ownership to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Kidapawan City, Duterte recalled how confession was done during his time at the Ateneo De Davao University High School.

"‘Di ba Friday, Friday mass 'yan tapos communion. Kaya magkumpisal ka. Tanungin kayo, 'What are your sins, my son?' E first year ka. E alam mo na kung anong kasalanan ng first year," Duterte began.

Duterte then told the story of one such confession wherein the boy confessing supposedly touched the private part of a maid while she was sleeping, then proceeded to the bathroom to do the "usual."

He said this incident happened twice, for which the priest ordered the boy to say "Our Father" and "Hail Mary" five times each or he would "go to hell."

This story elicited laughter from the audience.

Duterte also said that while the boy was making the confession, the priest at the confessional was also touching the boy.

"Habang nagkukumpisal ka, hinahawakan naman — hinahawakan ka naman," he said.

It is not clear, however, if Duterte actually did what he narrated in the story, as he pointed out towards the end that this incident supposedly happens to everyone.

"Ganu'n man 'yan. Kayo, ayaw lang ninyong ma — hindi niyo masabi dito. Ako wala man akong — media? Totoo man. It’s true. Lahat man ng mga bata dumaan ng…" he said.

"Ang Katoliko... she has to correct itself. 'Pag hindi kalaban nila talaga nila ako… And I will continue to attack them," he added.

The Catholic Church has been the centerpiece of the recent tirades of Duterte. He earlier told Catholics to stop going to church and made an allegation apparently directed towards Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David that he steals donations given to the church.

Duterte, in his speech in Kidapawan City, told priests not to meddle in state affairs, comparing them to Father Damaso from the novel Noli Me Tangere by national hero Jose Rizal.

"Ito namang mga pari, huwag niyong sobrahan ‘yung pakialam ninyo... Para talaga 'yun si Father Damaso ng Noli Me Tangere," he said.

"Tama talaga si Rizal. Iyong paghawak ninyo ng... Makialam pa. Mas marunong pa sa iyo," he added.

In 2015, Duterte revealed that a priest sexually abused him when he was young.

"[Kami] sa Ateneo noon and I will tell you the abuses committed against the minors at that time including me and I will tell you my story. Kaming lahat dumaan kami," said Duterte.

In August this year, Duterte vowed to help uncover the sexual abuses by priests in the Philippines amid allegations of a Catholic Church cover-up on such crimes in the US. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News