Duterte to priests: If you can wish for me to die, why can’t I?

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday defended his call to kill bishops critical of his government, citing a priest who wished him ill during a Mass for opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in September.

“Sabi ko, ‘patayin mo ‘yang mga obispo na ‘yan.’ Kung sila mismo sa misa nila, in a Mass there — I think it was Trillanes who was there. Sabi ng pari, ‘Sana mamatay na ito si Duterte,'” the President said in a speech in Las Piñas City.

(I said kill those bishops. They’ve also said that in Masses — I think it was Trillanes who was there.  The priest said we hope this Duterte would die.)

“Kung kayong mga pari, mga obispo, mga p***** i** kayo, if you can say that to me, wish me to die in a Mass, eh bakit ako hindi makasalita? ‘Di kayo rin (Why would I not say anything? You do that to me),” he added.

READ: Another joke? Duterte says Catholic bishops useless…kill them

The President was referring to Father Noel Gatchalian who joked that he had prayed for Duterte to get sick during a Mass for Trillanes.

The senator was then holed up at the Senate building when Duterte revoked his amnesty in September.

“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,” the priest said.

(At that time, there was a lot of trouble, our religion and our God were disrespected. Our church told us to pray. So I prayed for Digong to get sick.)

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

Duterte, who has been mocking the Catholic Church,  said the clergymen would not go to heaven after their death as they are mostly gay.

“Sino man maniwala na magpunta kayo ng langit? You’re dreaming. Lahat tayo magkita-kita sa impiyerno, kabaklaan ninyong mga p***** i** kayo. Eighty-five percent of them are homosexual. Alam ninyo ‘yan. Iyong ibang naiwan na 15 (percent), ayun, nagkakalat sa mundo,” he said.

(Who would believe that you will go to heaven? You are dreaming. We are going to see each other in hell. Eighty-five percent of them are homosexual. You know that. The remaining 15 percent are spreading misdeeds).

Duterte earlier drew the ire of the public for calling God “stupid” and questioning the creation theory in the Bible. /ee