Update

MANILA, Philippines -There is no stopping President Rodrigo Duterte from attacking the clergy and suggested to bystanders on Thursday to rob members of the clergy.

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“Kaya pagdating ko sabi ko, ‘Hoy, kayong mga tambay diyan, ‘pag dumaan ‘yang obispo ninyo holdapan ‘yan maraming pera ‘yan p***** i** niya. Patayin mo,” Duterte said in a speech during the birth anniversary celebration of Gov. Antonio Kho in Masbate, eliciting laughter from the crowd.

(To bystanders, if your bishop passes by, rob them, they have lots of money. Kill them.)

He said he has nothing against the Church, particularly priests, but slammed them for accusing him of extrajudicial killings.

The President in December urged the public to kill their bishops, whom he described as useless.

READ: Another joke? Duterte says Catholic bishops useless… kill them

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo had already clarified that Duterte’s ‘kill bishops’ remark was just a hyperbole for dramatic effect

In his speech in Masbate, Duterte again slammed priests for using the pulpit to criticize him.

“Itong pari, you know, do not use the pulpit,” he said.

“Magpa-interview ka diyan sa opisina mo. “We do not like the way Duterte is handling the problem because there are so many persons, innocents are killed.” Okay ‘yang ganun,” he added.

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(Have yourselves interviewed in your office and criticize they way I handle problems because many individuals get killed. That’s fine with me). /gsg/ac

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