Duterte: Don’t blame gov’t for priest’s death

President Rodrigo Duterte INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

DAVAO CITY—President Duterte on Friday said the death of Father Mark Ventura in Gattaran, Cagayan province, should not be blamed on the government.

“There’s a priest who died there, have you considered other angles? Why should we kill a priest? I am being blamed,” he said.

But Mr. Duterte said those blaming his government for Ventura’s death should look into the real motive of the killers.

“I am not at liberty to do it because it’s being investigated,” he said. Sen. Francis Pangilinan earlier said that the priest’s death was doubly sad because it occurred “under this administration, which boasts of prioritizing law and order and brags about reduced crime rates.”

Anakbayan, a militant youth group, actually blamed the Duterte administration for Ventura’s death. —ALLAN NAWAL