CHIEF Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Monday, March 26, brushed off Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle's sermon on Palm Sunday, March 25, about "arrogant and violent kings."
Speaking to Palace reporters, Panelo said he believed Tagle was not referring to President Rodrigo Duterte, but to other world leaders.
"I'm sure he is referring to world leaders and not from this country. I don't think this administration feel(s) alluded to or the leaders of this administration because I think the actions of this administration speak for themselves," Panelo said.
In his homily delivered at the Manila Cathedral on Sunday, March 25, Tagle took a swipe at "kings" who are arrogant and boastful.
"In our world today, we have many kings who are full of arrogance, bereft of humility. Today, many follow the kings who use violence, arms, and intimidation, so devoid of understanding and solidarity with the weak," the archbishop stressed.
"Our king does not trust in violence, weapons, bullets and guns. Our king trust in God," he added.
Tagle said the Catholic faithful must know that the "true" king is one who "will save the world."
"The serene dignity and silence of the person who trusts in God, and who is in full solidarity with sinful humanity, that is true authority. That is our true king. That is the kind (who) will save the world," he said.
Panelo said Duterte was evidently not one of the "kings" being mentioned in Tagle's homily, noting that the Chief Executive is a "very humble" and "soft-hearted" person.
He added that the President was merely fufilling his mandate to "serve and protect" the Filipino people.
"Definitely not. It's out of character for the President. He is a very humble person. He is soft-hearted person who is outraged by any kind of assault on the person, of any person, on human rights violations. He's one defender of every citizen's rights. And under the Constitution is mandated to serve and protect the people. And he's just doing that," he said.
"So I think Bishop Tagle, Archbishop Tagle, is referring to world leaders who are violent and cocky," Duterte's chief legal counsel added.
Duterte, in his Holy Week message, urged Filipinos to revitalize their faith and renew their relationship with God and fellow countrymen.
The President also called on the Catholic faithful to reflect on Catholic values and embody "selflessness, compassion and love instilled in us through the years."
"As we put our hands together, this is an opportune time to rekindle our religious fervor and cherish our time-honored traditions as a pious people," the President said on March 25. (VoxPop Philippines)
