Palace: It’s CBCP job to prove gov’t behind threats

The Palace on Wednesday said it should be the job of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), not Duterte administration officials, to prove that the threats against clergymen were the work of the government.

“Suffice it to state that it is elementary in law that the one who alleges must prove,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

“The burden of proof lies on them,” added Panelo, who is also chief presidential legal counsel.

In a statement, Panelo maintained that “it stands to reason that they have to prove their accusation.”

“Our position is that they bring their concern officially to any law enforcement agency so that the latter may conduct an investigation and at the same time secure their safety,” he said.

Just last Tuesday, Panelo denied President Rodrigo Duterte had anything to do with the threats received by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas and Fathers Robert Reyes, Albert Alejo and Flavie Villanueva.