Duterte, Valles meet next week

President Duterte’s much anticipated meeting with Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles is set for next week.

The venue is still being finalized, according to Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.

“I have talked to Archbishop Valles. The venue is being finalized,” he said in a text message to Palace reporters.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace has very high expectations on the meeting due to the very good relations between the president of the CBCP and the President of the Republic, both of whom are natives of Davao.

The dialogue was among the agreements in the “no holds barred” meeting last Friday between Roque and Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Gabrial Giordano Caccia.

When Roque was asked on the sentiments of Caccia on President’s “God is stupid” remark and other statements against the Church during their meeting, Roque said he’s not in a position to disclose what they discussed in private.

“We agreed, the Papal Nuncio and I, that we will talk as candidly as we can provided we keep matters confidential. You know priests and lawyers share a common vow on confidentiality. So whatever was said between the Papal Nuncio and myself, I will share it only to the President. It is up to the President if he wants to divulge it to the public,” he said.