Roque: Duterte ready for dialogue with Church

The Church had supported rallies like this candle lighting rites in Dagupan City against summary killings. WILLIE LOMIBAO

CEBU CITY — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Saturday echoed the willingness of President Duterte to dialogue with Catholic Church leaders, who had been critical of the killings linked to Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs.

“The President always listens to all Filipinos,” Roque told reporters in an interview here. Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, new president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), recently said he was ready to engage the Duterte administration in constructive dialogue.

“Communication lines are open,” he had said in an interview with CBCP News. Mr. Duterte had called Church leaders criticizing his bloody war on drugs “hypocrites.” —Ador Vincent S. Mayol