Duterte: Pope Francis a victim of ‘stray bullet’

 

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte lamented that Pope Francis became a victim of  what he called a “stray bullet” when he tried to criticize the government for mismanaging the traffic situation in the country.

In an interview with GMA News and radio dzBB anchor Mike Enriquez over the program “Ikaw Na Ba?... The Presidential Interview,” Duterte said “everybody knows hindi si Pope ang target ko.”

Duterte was referring to his controversial, expletive-filled speech in November last year when PDP-Laban officially announced Duterte as their presidential bet.

During his speech that lasted about an hour and 20 minutes, Duterte cited the heavy traffic when Pope Francis was in the country because major roads like Roxas Boulevard were closed.

Recounting how it took him five hours to travel to the airport, Duterte said, "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."

But on radio dzBB, Duterte said “it was just color of the tongue, I was just expressing myself.”

“I was criticizing how this country is being ruled. You close Dewey (Roxas) Boulevard for five days,” he said.

Duterte earlier apologized in public for cursing the Pope and even promised to donate P1,000 for every curse word he would say.

Asked by Enriquez if he still curses, Duterte said, “Hindi na masyado. ‘Tang na lang.”

Sometimes, instead of using another curse word, he would just say, “Philippine Islands (PI).”

Duterte earlier said he wants to visit Pope Francis in the Vatican but at the moment, he is still saving money for the trip. — RSJ, GMA News