DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has found an enemy in one local priest who allegedly tried to impute malice into the distribution of food for poor people in the Buhangin district on Christmas Day last year.

In his television program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" Sunday, Duterte chided Fr. Pedro Pete Lamata of the St. Mary's Parish in Buhangin for his refusal to accept the food given by the City Government for his parishioners.

Valentine's 2009 blog

"Kadugay na nako giingon na mao nga gipili nako ang simbahan nga maoy magdistribute sa pagkaon niadtong Christmas kay para dili nila ingnon na kadto rang ka-partido nako sa pulitika ang akong gipanghatagan. Kay kung ang simbahan ang magdistribute, walay pili (I have repeatedly said a long time ago that the reason I chose the churches to distribute food during Christmas is so that people will not say that only those supportive of my political party are getting something. I have always believed that if it's the Church that distributes, then it will distribute to everyone)," Duterte explained.

"Tapos gikonekta pa niya sa summary killings ang food donations. Pero ang pinakasuko ko sa tanan kay gidamay pa nya akong anak na si Vice Mayor Inday Sara [Duterte]. Gitawag pa nya'g Inday Badiday akong anak. Ayaw ana, pari gud ka. Ug muingon ka killer ko, okey lang na sa akoa, basta ayaw lang damaya akong pamilya (He even linked the food donations to summary killings. But what angered me most was when he dragged my daughter Vice Mayor Sara into his homily, calling her Inday Badiday. You're a priest, you're not supposed to do that. If you accuse me of being a killer, that's all right with me. Just don't drag my family here)," Duterte said.

"If you call a person by a nickname, that's an endearment. But when the name used is waxed with sarcasm, then it becomes a slur," he said.

The mayor said the food donation was not that of the City Government but of the Dabawenyos. But since the city cannot let these poor people line up at the City Treasurers' Office to get their share, then food donations during Christmas is seen as the most appropriate, with the help of the different centers of worship, whether Christian or Muslim.

By refusing the Christmas food donation, he said, Lamata only deprived the people of the basic needs they deserve from the local government.

He also chided the priest's homily where he dragged Vice Mayor Sara into the fray.

"Nangintriga ka pa, Father, nga nangasaba si Inday. Natural! Mangasaba man gani ang pari (And you castigate Vice Mayor Sara for scolding some police officers. That's her job as vice mayor. Even priests scold their parishioners)," he added.

Before hitting on Lamata, the mayor forewarned the viewers that he does not want to fight with Lamata and the Church.

"I hate to do this, apan naa man gud mga atake na personal (but they started the personal attacks)," the mayor said.

Before the taping of the television episode Saturday evening, Duterte told Sun.Star Davao that his fight with Lamata could spell his doom politically. But, he was fast to add, his family's reputation and welfare are more important to him than politics, thus he decided to question the priest's credibility to be self-righteous.

"This could destroy me, it could spell my doom. Medyo sensitive kasi ito eh. Ayoko lang dito kasi sinali yung anak ko. Gina BI-BI nila akong anak (This issue is quite sensitive but what I don't like in what they did is that they have now dragged my daughter into their politicking)," he said.

Married priest?

In the same show, Duterte discussed a purported marriage between one Pedro Pedragosa Lamata and Ma. Asuncion Baluran on May 11, 1982. The contract showed the residence of Lamata to be in Matina, Davao City and his profession as "teaching".

The marriage was officiated by then Dauis, Bohol mayor Firmo Aranjuez with license number 6650431. Witnesses who signed the contract were Agapito Cañete Jr. and Dionisia Gacayan.

Duterte said Lamata was ordained as priest in 1980, two years before his marriage.

"So pari ka na, me asawa ka pa. Kung wala ka na karon nakipagpuyo sa imong asawa, unsang klaseng pari ka? Gipahibalo ba nimo sa imong mga parokyano na minyo ka (You were already a priest when you married. Now, if you have already left the woman you are still married to, then what kind of priest are you? Did you ever tell your parishioners that you are married)?" Duterte asked.

"Kamo kung makasala mo, okay lang. Pero kung kami, dili okay. Maayo nang tabla tang tanan (It appears that if you, a priest, commits a wrong, then that's okay. But if we are the ones who do wrong, it's not. Let's play fair here)," he added.

Asked how certain he is that Fr. Lamata is the same Pedro Lamata married to Asuncion Baluran, Duterte said he is certain as no less than his relatives in Bohol have personally identified Fr. Lamata as the married Pedro Lamata. The same information was confirmed by the woman's kin, although even the mayor would prefer that the woman's family will not be dragged into the picture.

The mayor challenged Lamata and the Church to face him in a public forum and vent their sentiments against his administration while he vents his on the Church.

"Sige harapan tayo. Ipalabas nyo lahat ng alam niyo sa akin at ipalabas ko din ang lahat ng alam ko sa inyo," said Duterte, adding that he has nothing to hide since his life had always been an open book and he has been frank about his actions.

It was learned that Duterte knew of Lamata's married status some time ago as his relatives there told him about it. The mayor said he kept this information from the public for a long time as he does not want to destroy Lamata's reputation.

But since Lamata has been castigating him on the pulpit, he said, then he is just stating facts to prove who is more credible between the two of them.

Hell is heaven

The mayor admitted that his expose‚ against Lamata could force the Church to excommunicate him, but he does not care as he is only telling the truth.

"Ako kung i-excommunicate ko ninyo, I'm ready. Kay kung kamo na lang pud nga pari akong makauban sa langit, I'd be more happy sa impyerno. Inyo na nang inyong Ginoo (If I will be with priests like you in heaven, then I'd be happier in hell. You can keep your God)?" Duterte said.

Asked if he is willing to settle his dispute with Fr. Lamata privately, Duterte said he is not yet ready as the priest has been attacking him in his church sermons.

"Your behavior is not in accordance with the Church. Dili ko makipagstorya nimo (I refuse to talk with you)," Duterte said.

The mayor was quick to add during his program that should the Pedro Lamata in the marriage certificate be another person, then he's sorry.

But in a tete-a-tete after the program, he said he is sure that the Pedro Lamata in the marriage certificate and the priest are one and the same as he is in touch with the woman's relatives.

Lamata has failed to return phone calls made by Sun.Star Sunday.