In bishops' presence, Duterte vows to pay for cussing

MANILA, Philippines — After being under fire for cursing at Pope Francis in a nationally televised speech, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte met with Catholic bishops on Friday and said he had a change of heart.

In a statement, Duterte said he promised Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, Bishop George Rimando and Monsignor Paul Cuison a donation of P1,000 to Catholic-run charity Caritas each time he utters a swearword.

"I return, I told them that I would lessen my use of cuss words. I am even regulating myself and will donate P1,000 to Caritas Davao everytime I would swear," Duterte said.

Valles also "admonished and lectured" the tough-talking presidential aspirant on Christian values.

In his controversial speech Monday shortly after being proclaimed standard-bearer of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, Duterte cursed at Pope Francis in blaming his visit for the gridlock in Metro Manila.

He also admitted being a womanizer, saying he loved four women at the same time.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, took offense to Duterte's gaffe, especially that it was welcomed by some of his supporters.

"When a revered and loved and admired man like Pope Francis is cursed by a political candidate and the audience laugh, I can only bow my head and grieve in great shame," Villegas said.

Women's party Gabriela also condemned Duterte's statement, saying it "reeks of machismo, reinforces the society's low regard of women and consequently increases women's vulnerability to violence and abuse."

A day after the speech, Duterte denied swearing at the pope and claimed he was molested as a child by a Catholic priest.

Duterte said the priest in question has already passed away.