“P**** (son of a bitch) I will shoot you right there. You do not do that in my country. They render our cops inutile… because of human rights. P***** ka (Son of a bitch). You enjoy your human rights there in heaven,” President Rodrigo Duterte said.
“God promised you that all (victims of) extrajudicial killings will go to heaven. That’s what I asked from God. Sabi naman ng Dios, ‘pwede, pwede [That’s what I asked from God and God said, it can be done, it can be done]. Gawin ko ba iyan kung walang guarantee? Kawawa naman, [Will I do it without guarantee? What a pity]…,” he said.
These comments were followed by more nonsense comments. These mocking comments continue to justify the extrajudicial killings perpetrated by the Duterte regime on its war against drugs.
The opposition to the Duterte regime’s war on drugs and war against the people is one of the reasons behind why some Catholic and Protestant clergy and lay people are persecuted.
Sedition charges are filed against Catholic bishop–Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Caloocan, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao, retired prelate Teodoro Bacani Jr., and former Education secretary Bro. Armin Luistro among others.
Along with these abuses and human rights violations, the mocking comments of Duterte are intended not only for his critics but also to the faith of the people. Duterte continued to ridicule the faith of the people for the purpose of refocusing their attention away from the basic social issues. When Duterte is bombarded with many criticisms, he responded with mocking comments on God and faith.
The mocking statements of being a President are one of the examples of the abuses made by the highest officer of the Philippine republic. He is not afraid of penalties, because he knew that he is immune from suit for now. He may be immune of his wrongdoings, but he cannot escape from the anger and judgment from God. His time will surely come.
There is a time for him. It will not immediately happen, but it would come. As the Letter of Peter says:
“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” (2 Peter 3:7 RSV)
