Religious groups appeal to Duterte to stop ‘God’ comments

Leaders of various religious groups on Monday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to refrain from making statements on God when he delivers his third State of the Nation Address later in the day.

Bishop Warlito Baldomero of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente said Duterte’s previous comments on God only aims to divert public attention from his failed promises.

“Kung marinig natin na nilalait niya ang Diyos, palagay namin ito ay paglihis lang sa mga kapalpakalan niya para malihis sa mga issue,” Baldomero said in an interview.

His colleague, Bishop Joel Porlares, said any comments on Christian belief in the SONA would divide the country even more.

“We expect him to do better than what he is doing. We expect him to stop persecuting the church. It only creates division in the society, I hope he will stop that. It will create more cracks,” Porlares said.

Meanwhile, Sister Glenda Monroy of the Angelic Sisters of St. Paul in Marikina said Duterte should be more presidential and stop his polarizing remarks being the father of the nation.

“Ang apela ko sa kanya is kung presidente siya dapat... (maging) good leader, may good manners. Ang tatay marunog mag-alaga sa mga anak, wala siya nun e,” Monroy said.

Baldomero also appealed for Duterte to keep his promises made in his SONA and urged him to improve the country’s human rights situation, which has dragged even members of the church as its victims.

“Gusto ko marinig sana yung tungkol sana sa paggalang niya sa human rights. Talagang binabaliwala niya ang karapatang pantao pati ang karapatan ng mga pari na magsalita. Parang linilimitahan niya ang gusto niya marinig,” he said.

Religious groups from Catholic, Christian, and Protestant churches are expected to hold a unity Mass at the St. Peter Parish in Commonwealth Avenue at 1:30 p.m. — RSJ, GMA News