PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte could not be considered the "anti-Christ" merely because of his series of tirades against the Catholic Church, Malacañang said on Monday, January 7.

In a television interview, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo reiterated that the President was merely initiating an "intellectual discourse" on the validity of certain doctrines of the Catholic Church.

Panelo said the public should get used to the President's "style" of questioning the church's beliefs.

"When you say anti-Christ, you go against the teachings of Christ and the values that he teaches. So when the President gives specific instances of wrongs done by a particular church or the followers, then those acts are anti-Christ," Panelo said.

"You are questioning that concept and it's for you to explain to the non-believer. But when you questions doctrines, it doesn't mean you are anti-Christ. But the President has already been like that ever since. In other words, that is his style," he added.

On December 29, Duterte branded as "silly" the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which states that there is one God in three divine persons -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

For Panelo, there was nothing wrong with Duterte's remarks against the Holy Trinity.

"Well, he doesn't believe in the Holy Trinity. So what's wrong with that?" he said. "Let's leave it at that. Let's convince him or persuade him to believe in our doctrines. But if he doesn't want, how can we be forced or how can we force him into believing?"

Panelo pointed that Duterte's anti-Catholic slurs should not be deemed as an act of "bullying."

He also clarified that Duterte's verbal tirades against the church must not be viewed as a sole attack on the Catholic Church.

"When he speaks, he speaks in general. It points to every kind of religion that teaches goodness and yet, practices evil or wrong," Panelo said.

"The President cannot be deprived of criticizing the Church, especially with the practice of those who advocate the doctrines of the Church. I cannot even understand why people in the Church will be offended by this when certain people question your doctrines. It is your jon to explain, to justify," the Palace official added.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, former president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, earlier warned against "anti-Christs."

Villegas did not mention Duterte but was apparently referring to the President, who repeatedly called CatholicGod "stupid." (SunStar Philippines)