Duterte dared: Tell all on priest abuses

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo yesterday dared Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to tell all on the sexual abuse he claims to have suffered at the hands of priests when he was a young student.

Pabillo, once the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee chairman, said the 70-year-old mayor should “immediately tell what happened.”

“This is what Pope Francis had said, that people should come out so the matter can be investigated,” Pabillo said.

He said that if Duterte, who has joined the May 2016 presidential race, feels that he was abused then he should say it. If he was abused, even if he has not yet filed a complaint about it, he should have said something a long time ago.

“This happened to him a long time ago, yet he kept it to himself,” said Pabillo.

The bishop said he pities Duterte because he has been carrying this burden for a long time and he has not said anything about it.

Pabillo added that priests, just like others, are not perfect.

“All of us have made mistakes. Then he could also criticize us. We would also fix our shortcomings,” he explained.

He is only hoping that when Duterte makes a comment, it would lead to the cleansing of their ranks in the church.

As to the challenge to have a debate with Duterte, Pabillo said that he does not see the need for it.

“What for? We did not say that he should not run. He just showed the public what he really is, would you vote for him? Does he deserve to win (the presidency)?” Pabillo asked.

Meanwhile, retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, former CBCP president, said, “I am begging the good mayor on bended knees to please go to the civil court and there file a case against priests and together with his companions, whom he claims were all abused.”

He said that before the court, those who were abused by priests could narrate how and when these instances happened.

“The Church does not condone these actions. Instead of talking and talking, file a case and let us see what is it all about, because otherwise if you cannot prove that then you should have kept your mouth shut,” Cruz added.

The women’s group Gabriela said Duterte’s statements and actions that denigrate women run counter to their principle of upholding women’s rights.

“Womanizing and treating women as objects is an affront to women and it should not be flaunted. This reeks of machismo, reinforces the society’s low regard of women, and consequently heightens women’s vulnerability to violence and abuse. This is both distasteful and unacceptable,” noted Gabriela secretary-general Joms Salvador.

Malacañang yesterday called on Duterte to be more circumspect in his remarks.

“I think it’s not a question of using Pope Francis in the first place, if he’d not mentioned Pope Francis’ name, nothing of this sort would ever arise,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said, referring to Duterte’s reported swearing on the pope when the mayor was caught in traffic in Manila during the papal visit.

“So, it’s about being more conscientious of what you say as public official. It’s an expression of indignation of Catholics who love Pope Francis,” he said. “I suppose if you view the ordinary netizens, they have expressed indignation over what he said.”

Gabriela and the Gabriela Women’s Party reiterate the call to all candidates, especially those running for the highest positions, especially Duterte, to refrain from making statements and committing acts that are offensive to women.

“Those setting their sights on ruling the country must impose upon themselves the highest standards towards uplifting society’s views on women and helping ensure the protection of women from abuse,” Salvador added.

The group urged Duterte and other candidates to delve into platforms and discuss women and people’s issues rather than issue statements and actions that malign women. With Delon Porcalla, Rhodina Villanueva