DAVAO CITY (February 25) —- President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday night, warned groups or people using his name not to touch the priest or to intimidate religious leaders, particularly Catholic priests.
Duterte made the warning after receiving a text message from Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle concerning an anonymous individual using the President’s name and his family to threaten Catholic leaders.
“Either Muslims or Christians, they had nothing to do with us. Do not do it. Do not try to do it. Ang religious [leaders] has nothing to do with the vagaries of life. Lay off! Stop threatening them or ako ang makalaban ninyo,” Duterte stressed.
“Oras na galawin ninyo ang mga madre o pari o Imam… wag niyo silang galawin. Those are religious people. Kilala man ninyo yan, tayo mag-enkwentro diyan. Wala silang kinalaman,” he continued.
Duterte was in the middle of his speech at the campaign rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) at the Plaza Independencia.Palaza Independencia in Cebu City, when he issued the warning.
Duterte read Cardinal Tagle’s message: “Good day po, greetings from Rome. I was informed that Bishop David and some priests got death threats from someone claiming to be working for the President’s family,. Just to let you know, baka may naninira. Thanks, we pray.”
Tagle has earlier shared about some anonymous individual using the President’s name and his family to threaten Catholic leaders.-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph
