Duterte threatens to kill priest linked to murder of alleged lover

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday threatened to kill a priest if the latter will not surrender to face charges in relation to the murder of his "pregnant girlfriend."

Duterte issued the warning to a certain “Fernandez” in a speech during the awarding ceremony for outstanding female law enforcers in Malacañang.  

“Itong --- ‘yong si Fernandez ba ‘yan?  A priest who killed a pregnant paramour of his. Nothing is happening to the case. Maglabas ‘yang warrant na ‘yan. Kung walang police,  siyempre mahiya. It’s very unsettling actually. So ako ang mag-aresto sa iyo,” the President said.

“You better surrender because if you are not, I’ll hunt you down. And if you don’t surrender, you put up a good fight, I’ll kill you like a dog. Wala akong --- the law is the law is the law. Period,” he said.

Duterte is a critic of the Catholic Church, having used his speeches to lash out at bishops and priests whom he accused of womanizing, molesting children and corruption. He also claimed to have been molested by a priest when he was a young student.

Last month, Duterte urged the Church to reform itself after Pope Francis admitted about the sexual abuse of nuns by priests and bishops.

“Sabi ko ‘yang mga obispo mga g*** ‘yan. So how many cardinals already defrocked? Tinanggalan ng sutana? Oh see? Tapos sabihin ninyo ako bastos ganun,” Duterte said.

“Oh look. Ako lang ang nagsasabi ng totoo. Iyan ang totoo. Pagka hiniritan mo ako, kagaya ng pari, pagka bugok ng p— ina niya.”

He then reiterated that the clergy should not use the pulpit to attack him and his policies, particularly the war on drugs. — BAP, GMA News