Roque: Duterte will not order the killing of priests

President Duterte does not want Catholic priests killed, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday.

Roque made the statement after Mr. Duterte’s critics likened the President’s tirades against the Catholic Church to an invitation to attack Church people.

“When it comes to the killings of priests, the President will never say that you should kill priests,” Roque said at a press briefing.

Roque said Mr. Duterte was amenable to a dialogue with the Church. —CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO