Duterte asks public to spare priests from harassment

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday appealed to the public to spare priests from harassment, after Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle bared supposed death threats received by priests from people claiming to be working for the Duterte family.

"Huwag ninyong saktan ang mga pari. Wala silang kinalaman sa pulitika," Duterte said in Cebuano during a speech at the PDP-Laban rally in Cebu City.

Duterte warned that any group who harass members of the Christian or Muslim community will face him directly as a consequence.

“Either Muslims or Christians, they had nothing to do with us. Do not do it. Do not try to do it. Ang religious [leaders] has nothing to do with the vagaries of life. Lay off! Stop threatening them or ako ang makalaban ninyo,” he said.

“Oras na galawin ninyo ang mga madre o pari o Imam… wag niyo silang galawin. Those are religious people. Kilala man ninyo yan, tayo mag-enkwentro diyan. Wala silang kinalaman,” he added.

The President, however, warned that any member of the clergy will be "crucified" if he is found to be involved in the illegal drug trade.

"Maliban na lang kung pari ka na nagbebenta ng shabu. Anak ng pu... ipapako kita sa krus," he said.

During the event, Duterte, who has criticized the Catholic Church several times, said Tagle had sent a message to former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go while the prelate was in Rome for the sex abuse summit of the Vatican.

“Greetings from Rome. I was informed that Bishop David and some priests got death threats from someone claiming to be working for the President's family. Just to let you know baka may naninira. Thanks. We pray,” Duterte said, reading the text message of Tagle to Go.

Go then replied to Tagle that none from the administration are threatening priests, noting that some groups are using the names of Duterte and his family for their own interests.

"Wala pong ganun, Cardinal. Cardinal, salamat, just to let you know that there are persons using the name of the President and his family to threaten kaya nga dapat ninyong malaman. Ingat po," Go said, as read by Duterte.  —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News