Trillanes, Hontiveros on Duterte’s tirades against God: Height of arrogance, distraction from issues

Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Risa Hontiveros on Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte’s mocking of God is the height of arrogance and aimed at distracting the public from the current issues hounding the country.

In a statement, Trillanes said he joins the Filipino nation in expressing outrage against Duterte’s verbal attack on Christianity and God Himself.

“It is the height of arrogance of power not only to disrespect and spit on an individual's faith but also to act as though he is a god,” Trillanes said.

He added Duterte’s statements “betray the nature of his evil mind and is very much consistent with the deceitfulness, heartlessness and ruthlessness of his policies.”

“It should be clear now to everyone that Duterte is one evil man,” he said.

For her part, Hontiveros said she believes the President is just distracting the people.

“As a Catholic, I understand the anger against Duterte's statements against God. Itong sinabi ni President Duterte has nothing to do with programs and policies. Ito ay pang distract lang sa issues, the priest killings, ‘yung corruption, ‘yung incompetence,” she said in an interview on ANC television.

On Sunday, Senator Panfilo Lacson said he would choose God over Duterte whom he sided many times “even when sometimes I had my doubts because I believed he was different from all the presidents who led before him.” 

“Between him and my God to Whom I pray every single day and with Whom I've found solace and comfort in all my difficult times, I don't even have to think of my choice. May my God forgive him and make him atone for all his sins,” he said.

Duterte, in a speech in Davao City during the opening of the 2018 National ICT Summit Friday, said he could not comprehend why God would create something perfect, but later destroy it. 

“Who is this stupid God? Estupido talaga itong p— ina kung ganun. You created some—something perfect and then you think of an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of your work,” he said.

He also criticized the creation story in the Bible that says the snake tempted Eve to eat the forbidden apple, then she in turn gave it to Adam.

“So kinain ni Adam. Then malice was born,” Duterte said.

“So tayo ngayon, all of us are born with an original sin. Ang original sin—ah sin—ano man ‘yan? Was it the first kiss? O… What was the sin? Bakit original? Nasa womb ka pa, may kasalanan ka na,” he added. 

Earlier in the day, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte is entitled to his spirituality.

Roque said Duterte's outburst could be traced to his bad experience with a priest during his childhood.

“Tingin ko ang mga deklarasyon ng Pangulo ay nagmula dun sa hindi magandang karanasan niya nung siya'y bata, na diumano'y siya ay naabuso ng isang pari,” Roque said as he urged the Catholic Church to address cases of abuse committed by priests. — Amit Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News