PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has created a three-man committee that will hold a dialogue with religious groups, Malacañang announced Tuesday, June 26.
The President formed the committee on Monday, June 25, or on the same day that he insisted that the Catholic Church's God is "stupid," while his God is "perfect" and has "common sense."
The committee is composed of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, and self-proclaimed civic leader Pastor "Boy" Saycon Jr..
In a press conference in Davao City, Roque said the panel was created after the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches proposed that a dialogue be held between Duterte and religious leaders.
Roque said the government would first initiate a discussion with the Catholic Church leaders, who have strained ties with the President.
"Inaanunsyo ko po na tinalaga po ng Presidente ang inyong abang lingkod, kasama po si Boy Saycon at saka si Usec. Ernie Abella, para maging komite na makikipag-usap at makikipag-dayalogo po, hindi lang sa Simbahang Katolika, kung hindi po sa lahat ng grupo na nais magkaroon ng dayalogo sa panig po ng gobyerno," he said.
(I am announcing that the President has appointed yours truly, along with Boy Saycon and Usec. Ernie Abella, to be part of the committee that will negotiate and hold a dialogue not only with the Catholic Church but also to all groups who seek a dialogue with the government.)
"Syempre po unahin natin sa Simbahang Katolika," he added.
(Of course, we'll start the dialogue with the Catholic Church.)
The three-man panel was created nearly two weeks after Malacañang announced that the President is open to a dialogue with the Catholic Church, despite his relentless tirades against the priests and bishops who oppose his policies.
Roque also made the announcement just a day after Duterte insulted the "stupid" God of the Catholic Church.
In a speech delivered in Cagayan de Oro City, Duterte said: "I never said I never had God. Ang sabi ko (I said), you're God is not my God. You're God is stupid. My God is perfect... Mine has a lot of common sense."
It was a "blessing in disguise" that Duterte had openly revealed his "traumatic" experience with a priest who allegedly moslested him when he was young, Roque said.
"The incident must have been traumatic to the President. And I'm sure, tama yung sinasabi ng ating taong simbahan na perhaps, there's need for some kind of intervention dahil obviously matagal na panahon ang nakalipas, dinadamdam pa rin ng Presidente ang naging mapait niyang karanasan," he said.
(The incident must have been traumatic to the President. And I'm sure, the clergymen are right that perhaps, there's need for some kind of intervention because obviously, it has been a long time but the President could still not get over his traumatic experience.)
He said Saycon is now communicating with the CBPC to formally open a dialogue with the Church leaders.
He said the impending dialogue with the religious sector aims to alleviate Duterte's "fierce" verbal tussle with the Catholic Church.
"Siguro po, ang tema ng mga paguusap e paano mabawasan 'yung hidwaan sa pagitan ng gobyerno at ng Simbahan. Alam ko po, merong separation of church and state, hindi po kinakailangang makipagdayalogo pero minabuti na po ng Presidente [na] buksan natin ang proseso ng dayalogo," Roque said.
(Perhaps, the theme of the dialogue is how to ease the tension between the government and the Church. I know there's a separation of Church and state, there's no need for a dialogue but the President decided [to] open the process of holding a dialogue [with religious leaders].)
"Nasabi na ng Presidente ang gusto niyang sabihin. Tignan natin kung paano mapapabuti ang samahan dahil iisang lipunan naman ang pinaglilingkuran ng gobyerno at ng simbahan."
(The President already said what he wants to say. Let's see how the relationship between the government and the Church will improve since they are serving one society.) (VoxPop Philippines)
