Palace hits Duterte critics for politicizing jokes, hyperbole

Malacañang has accused critics of President Rodrigo Duterte of politicizing his statements against the Catholic clergy after Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle bared supposed death threats received by priests.

Duterte had earlier urged bystanders to to rob and kill rich bishops. The President, after learning about Tagle's concern, warned people on Sunday to stop using his name to intimidate religious leaders, including priests.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo insisted that Duterte's harsh rhetoric against the clergy was only a "joke and hyperbole."

But critics, Panelo said, were "making it bad by viewing it differently."

"In other words, a joke perceived to be jokes by many and yet the critics and the opposition would convert it into serious matter," Panelo said at a news conference.

Panelo said Duterte's remarks should not be blamed for the death threats.

"Again, that is just a hyperbole. Meaning, it’s a criticism. It’s just is a criticism. That is precisely why he warned those who will harm the priest and he is serious on that. Because this President is outraged by any kind of irregularity or violation of any law or any threat made against any person," the Palace official said.

"He was not threatening anyone. I will repeat what I said - When he makes comments, he creates certain situations either to make people laugh or to stress a massage, but he doesn’t threat[en] people. He only threat[ens] criminals, only the criminals, the corrupt, the evil-doers, the scoundrels, the dregs of society."

The Palace official said Duterte need not change his manner of speaking.

"Our countrymen have been used to this President’s style of delivering his responses, his remarks. So, I don’t see any problem on that," Panelo said. —NB, GMA News