MALACAÑANG chided on Thursday, February 28, President Rodrigo Duterte's critics for blaming the Chief Executive for the death threats received by clergymen, including Caloocan bishop Pablo Virgilio David.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said some individuals from the opposition are once again out to "paint a different picture" on Duterte's "joke" against the leaders of the Catholic Church.
The Palace official reiterated that Duterte's previous call to "kill" prelates was a statement "done in jest" using "hyperbole."
He added that Filipinos are already used to the President's "unorthodox and out-of-the-box style," thus know "when the President is serious" and understand "when he only means to be comical."
"In another attempt to bespatter the President's popularity, the political opposition has once again blamed PRRD on the alleged death threats received by Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David," he said in a statement.
"To reiterate what I previously said, a joke is a joke. The President’s remarks on some members of the clergy were done in jest or were made using figure of speech or hyperbole. The Filipino people know and approve this unorthodox and out-of-the-box style of the Chief Executive in delivering his message to them," he added.
Some priests, including David who is a vocal critic of the administration's drug war, have been receiving death threats since Duterte said bishops are "better off dead."
On Monday, February 25, Duterte took back his recent pronouncement against the clergy and instead appealed to the public to refrain from harming Catholic Church leaders.
However, opposition senators Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros blamed Duterte for the death threat against David.
Panelo said the public should understand that Duterte was a "natural teaser" to entertain his audience who "responds animatedly to his comedic utterances."
Duterte's spokesman also stressed that critics are ones to be blamed for making it appear that the Chief Executive was "serious" in saying that bishops should be killed.
He added that the grave threats could be done by "pranksters, or by anti-Duterte trolls or by the personal enemies of the bishop."
"Therefore, if there is one to blame, it is the critics and detractors of the President and this administration who have been constantly painting a different picture by manipulating PRRD's statements and making them appear to look bad and malicious," Panelo said.
"A joke perceived to be a joke by Filipinos are converted by these haters into a grave and serious marching order so as to confuse the public and at the same time put themselves in a position where they can criticize the President," he added.
Panelo then guaranteed that the government would ensure David's safety.
He also said that the Duterte administration would enforce "full force of law" against those who would attempt to kill the Caloocan bishop.
"Just the same we will not allow any harm done to him (David). Anyone who attempts at harming him will have the full force of the law to contend with," the Palace official said.
"Let the members of the Catholic hierarchy be assured that the President means no harm. They need not be afraid as we are one with them in their mission in thwarting evil. Those who must be afraid are the criminals, the corrupt, the evildoers, the scoundrels, the terrorists and the drug lords and pushers," he added. (SunStar Philippines)