Palace defends Duterte, critics assail him for calling God ‘stupid’

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition senators blasted President Rodrigo Duterte after the acid-tongue chief executive lambasted God and the Bible creation story.

In a statement, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said that Duterte’s most recent verbal attacks against Christianity and God should send a message to everyone that the president is “one evil man.”

“It is the height of arrogance of power not only to disrespect and spit on an individual’s faith but also to act as though he is God,” Trillanes said Monday.

The senator, one of the president’s staunch critics, added: “Worse, Duterte’s statement betrays the nature of his evil mind and is very much consistent with the deceitfulness, heartlessness and ruthlessness of his policies.”

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, for her part, said Duterte’s criticisms of God were meant as a tactic to divert the public’s attention from issues such as deaths of clergymen, extrajudicial killings linked to the violent “war on drugs,” corruption and supposed incompetence of government officials.

“I understand where the anger of the faithful is coming from. We are insulted but let’s also keep our eye on burning issues that we have to hold this president accountable,” she said in an interview on ANC’s “Headstart.”

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Sunday chose God over Duterte following the chief executive’s remarks.

“May my God forgive him and make him atone for all his sins,” he said.

Duterte, who is known for criticizing the Catholic Church, called God “stupid” after he questioned His logic in the creation story in a speech last Friday.

READ: Lacson sides with God after Duterte’s anti-Catholic remarks

Palace defends Duterte

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque defended Duterte, saying the president is entitled to his own religious belief.

“Iyan po ay personal na paninindigan ng pangulo… Tingin ko ang ating pangulo ay merong personal na spirituwalidad pero nasa kanya na iyan at hindi na kinakailangang bigyan ng interpretasyon,” Roque said in an interview on GMA-7’s “Unang Hirit.”

He added that the president’s remarks might have stemmed from his unpleasant experience with a priest during his childhood.

In several speeches, Duterte lambasted the Catholic Church, accusing priests of engaging in corruption and questioning their teachings. At one point, the president said that the Catholic Church, which has been critical of the government’s policies, is “full of ****.”