Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the head of the Philippines bishops, has said his response to Rodrigo Duterte is “the silence of Jesus before the arrogance of [Pontius] Pilate”.
Speaking on Sunday, the 71-year-old clergyman addressed critics disappointed by his quiet composure in the face of vulgar attacks from president-elect Duterte.
Duterte has in recent weeks condemned Catholic bishops and said the Church is “the most hypocritical institution”. In the past he offended the faithful by swearing at the Pope and has called for Villegas’ resignation.
In a message entitled ‘Understanding Silence’, the archbishop said: “Mine is the language of peace that refuses the dark magic of revenge...Mine is the silence of respect for those who consider us their enemies but whose good we truly pray for and whose happiness we want to see unfold.”
“There is virtue in silence. There is virtue in speech. Wisdom is knowing when it is time for silence and when is the timing for speech,” he added.
The day before Villegas’ comments, Duterte was in the press again for controversial remarks about criminals. In a nationally-televised speech he said he supports vigilantism and encouraged Filipinos to take justice into their own hands. "If he fights, and he fights to the death, you can kill him," said the former mayor of Davao City, who was elected to the presidency in a decisive victory last month.
During the address, Duterte encouraged citizens to use deadly force against drug dealers who threaten them. "Please feel free to call us, the police, or do it yourself if you have the gun ... you have my support," he told the crowd and television cameras. "Shoot him [the drug dealer] and I'll give you a medal."
From Thursday to Saturday, five men, including a lawyer, fell victim to what appear to be cases of summary executions in three provinces, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Human rights watchdogs have expressed alarm that Duterte’s anti-crime campaign may lead to widespread rights violations.
Cristof Heyns, the UN’s special rapporteur on summary executions, told reporters in Geneva: “These comments are irresponsible in the extreme, and unbecoming of any leader, let alone someone who is to assume the position of the leader of a country that calls itself democratic.”
Duterte will be inaugurated as President on 30 June. He will lead the country with the third largest population of Catholics.
Duterte in quotes:
- "Forget the laws on human rights. If I make it to the presidential palace, I will do just what I did as mayor. You drug pushers, hold-up men and do-nothings, you better go out. Because I'd kill you," he said at his final campaign rally in Manila.
- "Pope, son of a whore, go home. Do not visit us again", he said while Pope Francis visited the country in 2015.
- On Catholic bishops: “You sons of whores, aren’t you ashamed? You ask so many favours, even from me.”
- On the 1989 rape of an Australian woman: "They raped all of the women... There was this Australian lay minister... when they took them out... I saw her face and I thought, 'Son of a bitch. what a pity’... they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first."
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