MANILA - Saying he was "praying" for President Duterte to see the light and have the humility to listen to others' views, Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani said he would be willing to go into debt to raise P10 million for the President if the latter can prove his claim that the bishop has "two wives."
Bacani became the object of Duterte's ire after he expressed concern over the rising number – topping 4,000 – of so-called "deaths under investigation" that are not part of "official" police operations in the bloody war on illegal drugs, but are causing widespread public fear.
Bacani had spoken at the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM) held recently in the country.
In a speech Tuesday afternoon before kin of the 44 SAF commandos who perished in the Battle of Mamasapano, Duterte flared in anger at the Catholic Church, mouthing expletives against bishops and church leaders, calling them corrupt and immoral.
His worst tirade was directed at Bacani, whom he accused of having two wives.
In an interview with Veritas Pilipinas, Bishop Bacani dared Duterte to present in public the two women who supposedly became his wives.
According to Bacani, he is ready to borrow P10 million to offer to Duterte as reward if the President can prove his claim.
"Unang-una, saan nakuha ng presidente yun? Alam mo, kung makapag-produce ang presidente ng kahit na isang asawa ko, bibigyan ko siya ng limang milyong piso. Kahit mangutang ako, kung maka-produce siya ng dalawa, makaka-sampung milyon ang presidente natin [First of all, where did the President get that? If he can produce at least one such alleged wife of mine, I'll give him P5 million. If he produces two wives, then even if I have to borrow money, I'll make sure our President gets P10 million]," Bacani told Radio Veritas.
In drawing attention to the rising number of cases of "death under investigation" (over 4,000 or more than half of the total death toll of 7,000 in the war on drugs since Duterte took office seven months ago), Bacani apparently sought to tie the issue in to the WACOM's theme of mercy.
Bacani supported the view of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III that it's not statistics per se that people wish to hear about, but the results of so-called "DUI" cases. Police top brass have routinely dismissed most of the non-PNP deaths as cases of drug lords killing their rivals or sanitizing up their trail; or vigilantes supporting the anti-drug war.
Bacani became the object of Duterte's ire after he expressed concern over the rising number – topping 4,000 – of so-called "deaths under investigation" that are not part of "official" police operations in the bloody war on illegal drugs, but are causing widespread public fear.
Bacani had spoken at the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM) held recently in the country.
In a speech Tuesday afternoon before kin of the 44 SAF commandos who perished in the Battle of Mamasapano, Duterte flared in anger at the Catholic Church, mouthing expletives against bishops and church leaders, calling them corrupt and immoral.
His worst tirade was directed at Bacani, whom he accused of having two wives.
In an interview with Veritas Pilipinas, Bishop Bacani dared Duterte to present in public the two women who supposedly became his wives.
According to Bacani, he is ready to borrow P10 million to offer to Duterte as reward if the President can prove his claim.
"Unang-una, saan nakuha ng presidente yun? Alam mo, kung makapag-produce ang presidente ng kahit na isang asawa ko, bibigyan ko siya ng limang milyong piso. Kahit mangutang ako, kung maka-produce siya ng dalawa, makaka-sampung milyon ang presidente natin [First of all, where did the President get that? If he can produce at least one such alleged wife of mine, I'll give him P5 million. If he produces two wives, then even if I have to borrow money, I'll make sure our President gets P10 million]," Bacani told Radio Veritas.
In drawing attention to the rising number of cases of "death under investigation" (over 4,000 or more than half of the total death toll of 7,000 in the war on drugs since Duterte took office seven months ago), Bacani apparently sought to tie the issue in to the WACOM's theme of mercy.
Bacani supported the view of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III that it's not statistics per se that people wish to hear about, but the results of so-called "DUI" cases. Police top brass have routinely dismissed most of the non-PNP deaths as cases of drug lords killing their rivals or sanitizing up their trail; or vigilantes supporting the anti-drug war.
It is the Church's sacred mandate, Bacani stressed, to save the lives of those who have gone astray, and this is why it wants the suspected drug users and pushers given the chance to fix their lives, not summarily executed.
He stressed that the Church supports Duterte's war on illegal drugs, which he acknowledged had ruined many lives.
In refuting Duterte's vicious attack, Bishop Bacani advised Duterte in the Radio Veritas interview to calm down and not fight the truth using lies and malicious tales against those who contradict him.
"Pero huwag naman niyang lalabanan ang katotohanan sa pamamagitan ng kasinungalingan at paninira ng kapwa. Maghunos-dili naman siya, presidente siya, hindi naman ordinaryong tsismoso," Bacani said.
He said it was beneath the President to sound like a neighborhood gossip.
"Kapag ganyan, masyado niyang dini-degrade ang pagka-presidente, bumababa ang tingin ng tao sa presidente na tsismoso, mali pa ang tsismis at hindi pa totoo [If he acts like that, he deeply degrades the presidency; people will just look at the President as a rumor-monger; worse, his gossip is pure fiction]."
Bacani rued that he had been accused of several things in the past, "but having a wife? I've never been accused of that."
Bacani, an outspoken bishop who spoke his mind during the Marcos dictatorship and during the Gloria Arroyo presidency, is used to controversy. He was once accused by his personal secretary of sexual harassment. He denied it, but was stripped of his administrative duties just the same. He resigned in 2008.
During the Radio Veritas interview, Bacani said he was praying for the day when Duterte finally sees the light.
He said the Church differs with Duterte only insofar as the way its anti-drugs war was being waged.
He said the church has been supporting the government campaign through various initiatives like community-based drug rehab and counseling centers.
He stressed that the Church supports Duterte's war on illegal drugs, which he acknowledged had ruined many lives.
In refuting Duterte's vicious attack, Bishop Bacani advised Duterte in the Radio Veritas interview to calm down and not fight the truth using lies and malicious tales against those who contradict him.
"Pero huwag naman niyang lalabanan ang katotohanan sa pamamagitan ng kasinungalingan at paninira ng kapwa. Maghunos-dili naman siya, presidente siya, hindi naman ordinaryong tsismoso," Bacani said.
He said it was beneath the President to sound like a neighborhood gossip.
"Kapag ganyan, masyado niyang dini-degrade ang pagka-presidente, bumababa ang tingin ng tao sa presidente na tsismoso, mali pa ang tsismis at hindi pa totoo [If he acts like that, he deeply degrades the presidency; people will just look at the President as a rumor-monger; worse, his gossip is pure fiction]."
Bacani rued that he had been accused of several things in the past, "but having a wife? I've never been accused of that."
Bacani, an outspoken bishop who spoke his mind during the Marcos dictatorship and during the Gloria Arroyo presidency, is used to controversy. He was once accused by his personal secretary of sexual harassment. He denied it, but was stripped of his administrative duties just the same. He resigned in 2008.
During the Radio Veritas interview, Bacani said he was praying for the day when Duterte finally sees the light.
He said the Church differs with Duterte only insofar as the way its anti-drugs war was being waged.
He said the church has been supporting the government campaign through various initiatives like community-based drug rehab and counseling centers.
Source: interaksyon
Share this story!
Visit and follow our website: Duterte News Global
© Duterte News Global
Post a Comment