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| President Rodrigo Duterte meets with JILCW leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva at Malacanang Park / photo screen-capped from PCOO video |
President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Jesus Is Lord Church
Worldwide (JILCW) leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva several weeks after the social
media uproar because of the president’s ‘stupid god’ remarks.
Since then, Villanueva and the Catholic Church leaders have
continuously attack the president, wanting him to apologize for allegedly
insulting their religious belief.
The JIL leader and the president met at the Malago Clubhouse at Malacañang Park on Wednesday, July 10, 2018 about the matter.
Duterte patiently explained to Villanueva that he was not
criticizing the God of everybody, only the God of his hypocrite critics.
“I said, If you review the tape, I said that my God is good,
has common sense and does not create trouble for my country.” The president
said.
The president also apologized to God directly as he said, “Sorry
God.”
On the other hand, he countered that If God is taken in a
generic term by everybody listening, then it’s up to them.
“but my concept of God when it is put at state with the
other people using the name of God in vain. Remember that there is a division
between Church and State.” Duterte said citing the separation of the Church and
the government.*
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| The president while talking and explaining his side during the meeting with Villanueva / screen-capped from PCCO video |
“You can criticize us
anything at all, from the garbage collectors to the Generals and even to the
Vice President and Senators, but never never use the name of God as a front to
attack the government, because that is not the proper way to do it.” He added.
Duterte also addressed his critics who are too busy
criticizing him instead of doing good, these people according to the president
are the ones who made their own concept of “God”.
“If you feel that somebody is doing it wrong and invoking
the name (of God), hey guy you just talking about the wrong God or that is not
God that is my God.” he said.
In the end, Duterte stressed that he will only apologize to
his God, not his critics.
“I only apologize to God, nobody else.” He said.
The president believes that his God will forgive him, and He
understands.
“He (God) would really be happy to listen to my apology,
why? Because my God is all forgiving, why? Because he does not remember past
hurts, why? Because God created me to be good and not to be bad,” Duterte said.
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| President Rodrigo Duterte poses for a photo (center) with JIL leader Bro.Eddie Villanueva after the meeting / photo by Malacanang |
Source: PCOO
