MALACAÑANG on Wednesday, March 13, encouraged church leaders who have reportedly received death threats to seek help and protection from authorities.

The call was made following reports that more priests critical of President Rodrigo Duterte have been receiving death threats from unknown people.

"Our position is that they bring their concern officially to any law enforcement agency so that the latter may conduct an investigation, and at the same time, secure their safety," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Three priests went public to reveal that they and two other bishops have received death threats for their supposed criticism of Duterte's brutal crackdown on illegal drugs.

They declined an offer of police protection, saying they cannot trust the cops who are behind the relentless drug war.

The death threats came amid the President's persistent verbal tirades against the clergy, and following his repeated call to "kill" bishops.

But on February 25, Duterte already asked the public not to harm and harass the Catholic Church leaders.

Father Robert Reyes, one of those who received death threats, noted that Duterte's verbal assaults against the Catholic Church could incite attacks against the clergy.

Panelo maintained that the Duterte government has no hand in the death threats on the leaders of the Catholic Church.

He said the death threats might have been "fabricated" or may have been plotted by "pranksters" or anti-Duterte "trolls."

"Suffice it to state that it is elementary in law that the one who alleges must prove," the Palace official said.

"Since the priests are the ones accusing government or the President as being behind those death threats, it stands to reason that they have to prove their accusation. The burden of proof lies on them," he added. (SunStar Philippines)