Duterte blames priest for Benguet church building collapse

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday blamed a priest after receiving reports that a church building in Itogon, Benguet collapsed as Typhoon Ompong lashed northern Luzon last Saturday.

At a press briefing on Sunday in Tuguegarao on the assessment of Ompong's damage, Duterte disclosed that there is a developing story in Barangay Ucab, reportedly affecting 43 people.

"There is an evolving story sa Itogon, Barangay Ucab... 43 persons doon, nag-collapse 'yung church... Kaya nga ito eh, alam mo Sir sa totoo lang, kung pinalitan niyo 'yung pari diyan, 'di magbagsak 'yan," Duterte said.

"Bobo kasi itong mga pari, p*tang*na," he added.

The province of Benguet was one of the areas severely-hit by Typhoon Ompong.

The Chief Executive did not provide further information on the incident, but he said he would visit the area: "Magpunta man ako doon, bukas (Monday)."

Duterte has repeatedly criticized priests for their hypocrisy, claiming he was sexually abused by an American priest when he was a young student.

He also dubbed the Catholic Church as the “most hypocritical institution in the Philippines."

The Philippine Catholic Church has been calling the attention of the President over his administration's deadly war on drugs that does not respect human life. —Ana Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News