Duterte talks tough, but he’s no bully – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte’s tough talk is not bullying but an expression of “dislike” and a warning to criminals to deter them from committing illegal acts, Malacañang clarified yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte did not feel alluded to when Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle issued a reminder urging the people not to use power to bully others.

“I agree. But whom does he refer to? Because those in power would also apply to those in the Church. You use the pulpit for bullying people, then it’s the same,” Panelo said at a press briefing yesterday when asked to react to Tagle’s remark.

“If the message is in the generic or general term, then I agree. You cannot be using power to bully or to coerce people. The President is against that too,” he added.

Asked to explain what the President does, Panelo said: “He expresses his sentiment on a particular matter, situation. He expresses dislike and he explains it.”

“He threatens criminals, yes. To make them feel threatened and stop doing their criminal acts,” he added.

During his second State of the Nation Address last year, Duterte admitted being a “bully” to the enemies of the state.

“To the left, I will not talk to you. Why should I?” Duterte said, referring to communist rebels.

“They accused me of being a bully. That’s true. I said I’m a bully to the enemies of the state. If you don’t want to talk to me, I don’t want to talk to you,” he added.

During a homily at the Manila Cathedral last Sunday, Tagle reminded the faithful not to bully anyone and not to use their power to disrespect or coerce others.

Tagle said the one who uses power to belittle his fellow man is “the one who is most afraid and insecure.”

Quoting St. Paul, the apostle who spread the teachings of Jesus to non-Jews, Tagle said the secret to happiness is not belittling other people.

Tagle did not mention names during his homily but his remark came after Duterte hurled a series of tirades against the Catholic Church, to which more than 80 percent of Filipinos belongs.

Duterte, who claimed to believe in God but not in religion, has called the Church “the most hypocritical institution” for its supposed failure to stop the sexual abuses of priests. He has also accused a bishop of amassing wealth at the expense of parishioners and has claimed that about 80 percent of priests are gay, allegations that remain unsubstantiated.