Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte attacks Catholic bishops criticizing him as ‘stupid bunch’ ‘kill them’
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte claimed in a speech delivered in Manila yesterday, that bishops in the majority Catholic nation are useless and continued to shame them for criticizing his administration.
“These bishops of bishops, kill them. This stupid bunch serve no purpose — all they do is criticize,” Duterte stated. He continued claiming that, “I never said I do not believe in God. What I said is your God is stupid, mine has a lot of common sense. That’s what I told the bishops; I never said I was an atheist.”
As a result of his latest speech, the Catholic Bishops in the Philippines are speaking out, calling the president a ‘murderous madman’ for his hateful speech.
Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon stated that “this was worrisome coming from a psychotic mind.” He said that he felt these statements cannot be taken lightly.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, claimed that “anyone who ask for others to be killed is not a real leader.” He continued sharing that, “he is instigating people to go against the law. prelate. He is joking or he is really out of his mind.”
Others are claiming that his heartless and hateful comments have caused the president to lose moral authority among the community. Bishop Santos of Balanga, said that “his statements not only disgraced himself [but are a] disappointment to all God-fearing citizens in our country.”
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the president has lashed out and attacked Catholic leaders or insulted God. In the past, he has been particularly disrespectful towards those who have vocalized concerns against the government for its human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings, which has resulted in more than 20,000 deaths.
Source: ICC