‘Violent, cocky kings? Duterte is humble, soft-hearted’
President Duterte adresses the audience during the oath taking ceremony of the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee leaders and National Summit on Charter Change at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City last Wednesday night. Miguel De Guzman
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang does not feel alluded to by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle’s tirades against “cocky and violent kings,” insisting President Duterte is “very humble” and “soft-hearted.”
In his homily for Palm Sunday, Tagle criticized leaders acting like modern day kings “who are full of cockiness and devoid of humility.”
Tagle lamented those “kings” rule with violence, arms and intimidation “but are without any understanding and oneness with the weak.”
The prelate did not name names but called on leaders to emulate the humility of Jesus Christ.
Presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo expressed belief Tagle was not referring to Duterte.
“I’m sure he is referring to world leaders not from this country. I don’t think this administration feels alluded to or the leaders in this administration. Because I think the actions of this administration speak for themselves,” Panelo said in a chance interview yesterday at Malacañang.
“It’s out of character... He (Duterte) is a very humble person, he is soft-hearted person who is outraged by any kind of assault on any person, on human rights violations,” he added.
Panelo also denied that Duterte is promoting unlawful violence and endorsing human rights violations, actions that critics have been trying to associate with the President.
“We have not initiated violence against innocent people. The police officers only respond to any assault on their lives in the process of arrest. And the President, as always, would not tolerate any police abuse,” the legal counsel said.
“He (Duterte) keeps on saying that there will be hell to pay if any violation of human rights is done by any police officer. So, I think Cardinal Tagle is referring to world leaders who are violent and cocky,” he added.
Some Catholic bishops have expressed concerns over Duterte’s war on illegal drugs, which they and some human rights advocates claim is encouraging summary executions.
Duterte, baptized and raised as a Catholic, lashed back at the bishops for their reported failure or unwillingness to uplift the lives of the poor or curb sexual abuses by priests.
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