Bishops laud Duterte’s SONA

MANILA, Philippines – Despite President Duterte’s pronouncements against the Catholic Church, some bishops were pleased when he said that there should be no separation between God and state.

“I hope it is intentional on his part. If he is serious, he should also follow the commandments, especially ‘thou shall not kill,’” Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said.

Pabillo, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Laity (CBCP-ECL), was among those who led the launch of the Huwag Kang Papatay campaign on Monday afternoon.

He was happy that the revival of the death penalty was not mentioned in Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco was elated that the President had said the truth, that we could not separate God from the state.

“We should never lose our focus on God. Hopefully good change will come,” Ongtioco said.

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes was dismayed when Duterte emphasized the full implementation of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law, saying this would be “the start of national calamity of reduced population.

“The moral aspect of artificial birth control was ignored,” Bastes said.

Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, found Duterte’s 98-minute speech inspiring and encouraging.

Santos was pleased that the Chief Executive intends to put up a one-stop shop for overseas Filipino workers.

“The President is magnanimous and forgiving. He did not resort to finger pointing on the sins of the past. I am grateful for his compassion and concern for our OFWs,” he said.

Two Mindanao bishops also expressed satisfaction with Duterte’s declaration of a unilateral ceasefire.

Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel, South Cotabato said the President’s first SONA was “very good.”

Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said Duterte wants the country to attain peace, which everyone aspires for.

“The President is sincere. I hope the Communist Party of the Philippines — New People’s Army will do the same. We welcome these changes,” Jumoad said.