Palace defends Duterte over ‘stupid God’ remark

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte’s “stupid God” remarks may have stemmed from his “bad experience” as a child with a priest, his spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday, as he challenged the Catholic Church to apologize for the wrongdoings of its clergy.

“He was allegedly abused by a priest. This is an issue that the Church should face and perhaps it just happened that the President is one of the victims,” Roque told GMA News.

Duterte had claimed being molested by an American Jesuit when he was a young student of Ateneo de Davao.

“The Church cannot forget this. It should admit and ask forgiveness so that all the victims, including President Duterte, can also move on with their lives,” Roque said.

In a speech in Davao City last week, Duterte questioned the creation story in the Bible and said God must have been stupid for allowing temptation to destroy His work.

The President’s statement did not sit well with many Filipinos, who are mostly Christians.

Critics have scored Duterte for using his public speeches to rant against religion, especially the Catholic Church.

Roque said Duterte is no follower of any religion but has his “personal spirituality.”

Chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo claimed Duterte did not insult God but was just questioning Christianity’s theory of creation. 

“The President is being criticized for calling God stupid. He didn’t call God stupid. What he said was the theory of creation as expounded by the writers of the Bible is a stupid proposition,” he said in a statement.

“The President cannot be divested of his right to express his opinion on matters of religion, politics and matters he deems fit to express upon, a constitutional right given to every citizen, just because he is the President. He has as much right to the freedom of speech and of expression constitutionally guaranteed the ordinary person,” he added.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros described Duterte’s statement as “completely unproductive and unnecessary.”

“It doesn’t contribute anything to policymaking and implementation. It does not really address any important issues. It doesn’t contribute in making the lives of Filipinos better. It doesn’t even add anything to philosophical discourse,” she said.

“As a woman of faith myself, I understand the anger of many among us. President Duterte’s latest comment does nothing to bring the Filipino people together. They only divide us even further,” she added.

For Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Duterte’s pronouncement only proved he is “one evil man.”