"DO NOT touch the priests. They have nothing to do with politics.”

This was the warning President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, February 24, sent out to the public after Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle raised concerns about anonymous individuals using the President's name and his family to threaten Catholic priests.

Speaking before thousands of Cebuano supporters during the PDP-Laban campaign rally at the Plaza Independencia, Duterte read an excerpt of the text message thread his camp and Tagle had exchanged.

“Good day po, greetings from Rome. I was informed that Bishop David and some priests got death threats from someone claiming to be working for the President’s family. Just to let you know, baka may naninira. Thanks, we pray," Tagle said in his text message.

The President’s camp replied, “Wala po ganun, Cardinal. Salamat," to which Tagle responded with, "Just to let you know that there are persons using the name of the President and his family.”

“Either Muslims or Christians, they had nothing to do with us. Do not do it. Do not try to do it. Ang religious (leaders) has nothing to do with the vagaries of life. Lay off! Stop threatening them or ako ang makakalaban ninyo. Oras na galawin ninyo ang mga madre o pari o omam...wag niyo silang galawin. Those are religious people. Kilala man ninyo yan, tayo mag-enkwentro diyan. Wala silang kinalaman,” Duterte said.