Priest jokes during Mass for Trillanes: ‘I prayed Duterte will get sick’

A priest who celebrated Mass to pray for the peaceful resolution to the chaos brought about by the arrest order against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV joked during the homily that he prayed for President Rodrigo Duterte to get sick.

“Noon pong marami nang kaguluhan ang nangyayari, na winawalanghiya pati ang ating relihiyon, binabastos pati ang ating Diyos, sinasabi ng ating Simbahan na magdasal. Sabi ko o sige magdasal, kaya pinagdasal ko na magkasakit si Digong,” said Father Noel Gatchalian during a Mass for Trillanes’ supporters held outside his office in the Senate building.

(When our religion was lambasted and our God was disrespected, our Church tells us to pray. I said okay, I’ll pray, so I prayed that Digong [President Rodrigo Duterte] would get sick.)

“‘Di ba sabi niya pagod na siya? Eh di magpahinga muna siya (Didn’t he say that he is tired? Let him rest),” he further said.

Gatchalian also said in jest that his prayer for Duterte to get sick is part of his many prayers to God.

“Ang totoo po niyan, isa lang iyan sa mga dalangin ko. Marami pa tayong [ibang panalangin], sapagkat kahit na tayo ay tahimik ay naghihintay lang tayo ng mga pagkakataon (The truth is, it’s just one of my prayers. We are praying for other things because even if we are silent, we are just waiting for the right opportunity),” he added.

Trillanes has been staying at his office at the Senate since Tuesday as President Rodrigo Duterte ordered his arrest after revoking the amnesty granted to him by the previous administration in 2010. /ee

READ: After nights at Senate office, Trillanes says he now has ‘lack of sleep’

READ: Trillanes asks SC: Stop Duterte’s repeal of my amnesty