Duterte to Church: Respect President’s stand on RH

Sunday, May 22, 2011

DAVAO City Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte on Sunday urged the Catholic Church and those who opposed the Reproductive Health (RH) bill to be more respectful of other people, especially the President.

In his television program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" on Sunday morning, Duterte emphasized there is nothing to argue about the bill, as everyone has his own take on the matter.

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"Ang sa akin lang is, it is their stand, that is my stand, and it is the stand of the President. Ang akin lang naman, sana these people who are on the opposite side, na hindi sila masyadong... especially the priest and bishops, to tone down their violent language, which is getting too personal to the President," Duterte said, adding that Davao City already passed its own RH ordinance last year.

Duterte said the Catholics who believe in the stand of the Church and the warnings of the priests can do so, however, he said the Philippines cannot be ruled by the Roman Catholic Church.

"Iba-iba naman ang relihiyon. As I said, within this country, there are people who believe in God, and there are those who do not believe in God," Duterte explained.

The Church cannot speak on behalf of everyone, he added.

Meanwhile, Duterte said that while Congress is still deliberating on the bill, surveys are showing that majority of the Filipinos favor the RH.

When he first became mayor 20 years ago, he said, he already saw the problem of governing and providing services to a fast growing population. The bill will help address the problem, he said. (Ivy C. Tejano)