Duterte criticizes priests, Catholic Church during Holy Week

President Rodrigo Duterte on Holy Tuesday denounced anew Catholic priests and mocked again the Catholic Church and its teachings despite the observance of Holy Week.

In his speech during a campaign rally of the PDP-Laban in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Duterte again slammed priests for allegedly criticizing his controversial campaign against illegal drugs during Masses.

"Kung atakehin mo ako, huwag mong atakehin ako sa Simbahan. Huwag mo — kang gumamit ng pulpito sabihin mo, 'Si Duterte demonyo. Pinapatay niya ‘yung mga masasamang…' Eh alam mo p***** ina may giyera. I have declared war. ‘Pag hindi, matalo ang bayan ko," he said.

Duterte said he does not attend Mass and seek forgiveness from God as it is "useless" as he tends to repeat his sins every day.

"Kayong mga pari wala man kayong gawin. Eh mag-ano kayo, forgiveness, forgiveness. Madala ba ‘yan ng forgiveness?" he asked.

"Kaya ako hindi nagsisimba. Kasi ‘pag magsimba ako, 'Forgive me, father, for I have killed last night three.' Balik na naman ako kinabukasan, 'Father, forgive me because I have killed 10 drug lords.' Eh pabalik-balik ako, bakit pa ako magpunta doon? Useless eh."

The President also pointed out the separation of the Church and State, saying that religious leaders should not use the Church in criticizing him and his administration.

"'Yung pari dapat huwag mong gamitin ang simbahan. Kung ito ang simbahan, pulpito ito, lumabas ka because there is a separation of Church and State. Hindi lahat tao Katoliko. May mga Muslim. May mga Protestante, may Jehovah. Huwag mong gamitin ang simbahan kasi ‘pag resbak ko, tatamaan talaga ang simbahan," Duterte said.

"‘Yan ang ibig kong sabihin. Lahat sa tamang panahon, sa tamang lugar. ‘Di ka basta-basta bira diyan [nang] bira. Be on the right place, on the right time, with the right issue. But you cannot be saying na dahil pari ka," he added.

Duterte also mentioned the alleged abuses committed by priests, noting that Pope Francis already admitted that there are really cases of abuse perpetrated by religious leaders.

"Ano sabi ni Pope nung nagpunta siya sa Dubai? Na totoo 'yung mga abuses sa mga bata at 'yung mga madre ginagamit ng pari. San ang sinungaling ko? Si Pope mismo ang nagadmit ah?" Duterte said.

Heaven and hell

Duterte also questioned the concept of heaven and hell as he asked his audience if they believe in hell: "Kayo ba naniwala ng hell, ng heaven? Eh kung naniwala kayo ng heaven and hell ah… Anong heaven and hell?"

He questioned why God created bad human beings and then put them in hell for their mistakes.

"Saan man ilagay? Bakit ako na ang Diyos — Diyos na ako — bakit ako maggawa ng masamang tao at ilagay ko diyan sa impiyerno?" Duterte said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive said if he would be made to choose, he prefers to go in hell, claiming that beautiful women with nice bodies are there.

"Oh ngayon papiliin mo ako. Saan gusto kong pumunta? Sa impiyerno. Bakit? Tingnan mo kung sino ‘yang nasa langit. ‘Yung mga — ‘yung madre na may kasalanan wala na ‘yon kasi ginamit ng pari. ‘Yung mga mababait na tao," Duterte said.

"Saan ang pinakamagandang babae dito sa Cagayan? Sa langit? Saan ‘yung magaganda diyan sa mga bar, sa karaoke, ‘yung magagandang katawan,  magandang mukha, nasaan kaya sila? Nasa impiyerno," he added.

Duterte has repeatedly used his speeches to lash out against bishops and priests as well as to mock the beliefs of Catholic Church.

He even called God as "stupid" and branded the Catholic Church as the “most hypocritical institution” in the Philippines. —KBK, GMA News