MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, January 8, hailed the call of the rector of Quiapo church to pray for President Rodrigo Duterte, who has continued his verbal tirades against the Catholic Church and its dogma.
Quiapo Church rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel, in a recent media briefing, urged devotees of the Black Nazarene to pray for the country's leaders, including Duterte.
Coronel made the call amid Duterte's relentless tirades against the Catholic Church, which he branded as the "most hypocritical institution."
"Bahagi sa Kristiyanong pananampalataya nang ipagdasal ang mga pinuno ng ating bansa, mga pinuno natin sa lipunan, kasama na ang ating Pangulo, lahat ng naglilingkod sa gobyerno (Part of the Christian faith is to pray for the leaders of our country, the leaders in our society, including our President, everyone who serves in the government)," the prelate said.
Responding to Coronel's statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the executive branch was grateful for such move to pray for the Chief Executive.
"Salamat naman. Dapat lang talaga ipagdasal. Kahit ako pinagdarasal ko sila eh (Thank you. We really have to pray for him. I also pray for them)," the Palace official said.
"Whether you believe it or not, I really pray and everybody is included, including enemies. Dapat 'yun daw ang dasal eh (That's how you should pray)," he added.
Panelo said the nation really needs to pray for the President to help him fulfill his mandate to serve the people.
He also reminded that Filipinos should wish for Duterte's success, noting that "the failure of this President will be the failure of all of us."
"Tandaan natin, why am I saying they should be praying for the President? We're all parts of one whole. Sa Filipino eh ang sakit ng kalingkingan ay dama ng buong katawan (In Filipino, what ails the little finger ails the whole body). The failure of this President will be the failure of all of us," Panelo said.
"So we really have to pray na mag-succeed ang presidency dahil tayong lahat ay makikinabang. Kung mabigo man siya eh bigo tayong lahat. (So we really have to pray for his presidency to succeed. If he fails, we all fail). So we really have to pray for each other," he added. (SunStar Philippines)