DUTERTE. ‘But don’t use God’s name in vain’

President Rodrigo Duterte said Filipinos, including Church leaders, can criticize him all they want but no one should use God’s name in attacking him.

Foreigners, however, have no right to attack him, the President added.

The President made the statement Saturday night, in a speech in Davao City, some two days before his scheduled one-on-one dialogue with Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles in Malacañang.

“It’s fundamental, it’s almost basic. There is really a clear-cut (line) between religion and governance. You cannot use God to criticize me,” he said.

The President, even before his “God is stupid remark” was made, has been at the receiving end of criticisms by Church leaders over his numerous controversial policies and the use of profanities in his speeches.

“When you criticize me, criticize me with all the heart’s content. Do it. I’m even asking you to do it to know if I am performing well. Do it,” he said.

But those critics from the religious sector, Duterte said, must not involve God in attacking him.

“When you are member of a religious faith, you have to be neutral, and not be involved in government affairs because it is the concept of a Republican system that there is a separation of Church and State,” he said.

“So when you criticize me, do not use the platform of God, that God will send you to hell, that God will never forgive you, or hell is waiting for you. Do not do it. Do not take God’s name in vain,” the President said.

Duterte then reminded his critics that not everyone shares the faith and that he’s not non-believer.

“That’s why I said, ‘whoever told you that your God is my God?’ I never said I do not believe in God. For all your protestations, you’re too presumptuous,” he said.

Every Filipino, as a matter of right, is entitled to criticize him but this does not include foreigners living in the country.

“I choose to be elected by the people and if I fall short of their expectations and they begin to be disappointed, discontented or whatever, they have every right (to criticize) for I may have failed them in my promises. Kaya okay sa akin ‘yan (That’s why that’s okay with me),” he said.

“But certainly not a foreigner, however holy you are, I will not allow you to do it in my country for, after all, we are not supposed to do it in other countries too,” Duterte said.

The President said critics can even use profanities while students protesting his policies can even ask for a two-week vacation just so they could carry out demonstrations.

“I’ll give you the streets of Manila. I’ll declare a two-week vacation for you. Sige, tao lang (Go on, we’re just humans),” he said.

“You know why? What’s the principle behind (this)? It’s that you’re the one paying my salary. If you are not satisfied or feel that you are shortchanged, o di murahin mo ako (then curse me),” he said.

Duterte said anyone but the priests or those from the Church and everybody connected with a religion should get back at him by using God’s name in vain.