Duterte reveals being abused by priest when young

By Ben O. Tesiorna And Karina V. Canedo
Sun.Star
December 2, 2015

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2015/12/02/duterte-reveals-being-abused-priest-when-young-444865

PRESIDENTIAL candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has described the Roman Catholic religion as "not so sacred, after all," after he dropped a bombshell against the Church after being criticized for "cursing" Pope Francis in his speech Monday.

On Tuesday evening, Duterte revealed on national television news program that he was sexually abused by a priest when he was in high school.

"I can't tell you the names. Kaming lahat dumaan kami," Duterte said, saying he and his classmates were sexually abused by a priest during his younger years.

Duterte spent years of high school at Ateneo de Davao but graduated at another Catholic-run school Holy Cross of Digos High School.

He made the revelation after Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Socrates Villegas wrote a strongly worded statement against Duterte.

"Is this the leadership by example that Mayor Duterte excites in us? Is this the leadership by example that makes a public official deserving of the title ‘Honorable’?," stated the CBCP president, who said that the statement is not just his own but of the entire organization.

Duterte appeared to have angered the Catholic Church leadership over his remarks on the traffic situation in Metro Manila during the five-day visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines in January, this year.

But Duterte apologized for throwing expletives in a televised speech after his proclamation as the official standard-bearer of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP)-Laban Monday night, and was quick to explain it was not intended for the pope.

The CBCP reminded the public that vulgarity is also a form of corruption, just as adultery and murder are.

"What the world desperately needs now is leadership by example," Villegas said.

Duterte said that he is willing to withdraw from the presidential race if the Vatican demands for it, but warned that after withdrawing, he will also divulge all the sins of the Church committed against him and some people he knows.

"Look, kayong mga pari, kayong mga bishop, you condemn me. You suggest that I will withdraw and I will withdraw but then I will start to open my mouth," Duterte said.

He said the Roman Catholic religion is "not so sacred" after all.

"There are so many secrets na tinatago namin, Huwag niyo kaming pilitin kasi itong relihiyon na ito is not so sacred," he told a national television news.

Though Duterte did not reveal the so-called sins committed against him, a friend of the city mayor who went to the same school during their high school days revealed that there was one priest in their school who would usually invite young boys for a swim during weekends.

The priest would only bring one flotation device for all of them and when they are already in the deep portion of the sea, the priest would start molesting the students who could do nothing but hold on to the inflatable device or risk drowning.

This is not the first time that Duterte criticized the Church. Years back, Duterte also revealed that a married priest is serving the Church for years now and the Church just ignored and allowed it.

An official statement from Ateneo de Manila read on the same news program, the Jesuit-run school could not give any comment on the revelation of the city mayor, saying it is not aware of Duterte's past and he is was not a graduate of Ateneo de Davao.

Duterte earlier admitted to have dropped out of Ateneo and moved to Holy Cross of Digos where he graduated high school.