Sotto offers to mediate between Duterte and Church

Senate President Vicente “”Tito”” Sotto III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Monday said he wanted to foster peace between President Rodrigo Duterte and the members of the Catholic Church, citing that many Filipinos were growing uncomfortable with the tension between the two.

“Marami na kasi sa mga kababayan natin ang uncomfortable with the situation. May nababato at bumabato pagbalik, ang Palasyo at members of the Catholic Church, the leadership of the Catholic church, especially the Bishops and the priests, so might as well try to find a dialogue,” Sotto told reporters on Monday.

“Subukan ko lang, wala namang mawawala,” he added.

The senator said he has yet to get in touch with the side of the church to “find out more about their perspective.”

“Wala pa kaming maliwanag na usapan pero I am trying to get in touch with the leadership of the CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines)…then at the first chance that I get to talk to the President, we’ll try to mediate if it’s possible at all. If not, at least we tried,” Sotto said.

The President is known to throw tirades and insults at the Catholic Church, a dominant religion in the Philippines.

One of his many controversial statements includes asking bystanders to rob and attack “rich” bishops.

READ: Duterte to bystanders: Rob, attack bishops

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes slammed Duterte’s latest tirade against the clergy as he raised concern about its possible effects on the young generation.

“This is a serious matter… the young generation might make him a role model in speaking improperly as though words have no moral consequences,” Bastes said.

READ: Catholic bishops slam latest Duterte tirade vs clergy