Duterte calls Rizal a ‘god,’ praises his stance vs Church

President Rodrigo Duterte stands in silence after laying a wreath at the Rizal Monument in Rizal Park, Manila, Saturday to honor the memory of the country’s national hero on Dec. 30, 2017. (Photo from Malacañang)

MANILA, Philippines — More than just a national hero, Jose Rizal is a “god” for President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Ang tingin ko kay Rizal, talagang god. He’s my hero,” Duterte said in an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s program, “Give Us This Day” on Saturday.

[I look up to Rizal as a good. He’s my hero.]

“And others also, Filipinos who died for the nation. And we then go to another place to face the fools who killed Rizal,” he added.

The 74-year-old leader further lauded Rizal for going against the Catholic Church.

“Rizal stood against the Roman Catholic Church,” the President said. “He died for our country. He was shot. And then these Filipinos will go to the church and kneel down,” Duterte said.

The President said the Catholic “subjugated” Philippines under imperialism for hundreds of years.

“They [Catholics] brought religion, fine. But you didn’t have to subjugate my country and made my fellow brothers and sisters under the yoke of imperialism for four hundred years. Kaya ‘yan, kita mo. They’re being treated as basura,” he said.

[Look at them now. They’re being treated like trash.]

Duterte has been attacking the Catholic Church in his speeches. In one speech, he even said the religion would be non-existent in 25 years.

“Itong Katoliko na ito will disappear. In almost 25 years wala na ‘yan,” the President said in a speech in Pasay City last February.

[This Catholic Church will disappear. In almost 25 years it will no longer be there.]

Duterte: Catholic Church will disappear in 25 years

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)