Cussing Duterte still donates to Caritas

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The profanities continue, and so does President Duterte’s promised donation of P1,000 to the Caritas Davao Foundation for every cuss word he says.

Although records are still being checked to determine how much he has already given to the charitable group, Duterte has kept the promise he made in 2015 to donate P1,000 for every p….. i.., yawa (devil), buang (fool) and similar words he utters.

Sister Rose Duhaylungsod, Caritas Davao head, said the President has consistently donated certain amounts to the foundation, which is under the Archdiocese of Davao.

She recalled that Duterte made donations for the years 2015 to 2017, although she has yet to look into the records to determine the total amount.

The President, who still continues to utter cuss words in speeches and has been at loggerheads with several Catholic bishops and priests, has yet to make donations for this year, she added.

Duterte started making donations after meeting Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, now president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, on Dec. 4, 2015 at the Bishop’s Residence here. 

Although Valles refused to say what the meeting was about, the then Davao City mayor revealed that the bishop admonished him for his cursing. Valles also reportedly lectured him on Christian values.

Duterte promised back then to lessen his use of cuss words and volunteered to donate P1,000 each time he swears. 

Valles later told The STAR that it was not to him that the President promised to donate P1,000 but to Caritas.

In 2015, Duterte was also quoted as saying he would no longer curse as it would be very expensive and asked people to monitor the cusses he made.