VOL. 8 ISSUE 177 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015
www.edgedavao.net
P 15.00 • 20 PAGES
‘I WILL NEVER CURSE MY POPE’ Rody says statement on traffic woes directed vs gov’t
EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society
By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY
D
RESPECT. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte shows respect to Fr. Ranier Sranhe SVD by joining the prayer during the blessing and laying of the time capsule of Central Lab. Diabetes, Wellness, Heart and Kidneys Inc. last month along Elpidio Quirino Avenue. Duterte came under fire from his detractors recently for allegedly cursing Pope Francis during his proclamation by the PDP-Laban Monday in Manila. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.
AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has clarified he was not cursing at Pope Francis but rather against government for its incompetence during his proclamation Monday by the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) as its standard bearer for president in 2016. “I can never curse my Pope. I was cursing at the incompetence of government. If it was taken by some in that light, I sincerely apologize. I will continue to curse so our suffering nation takes action,” Duterte said reaction to criticisms hurled against him for allegedly cursing the Pope when he discussed about government’s failure to address the traffic problem during the papal’s visit to the Philippines in January. But, the camp of Duterte admitted the mayor was sad that some people have taken his speech as being disrespectful to the Pope and that he should have explained his point further. “Mayor Rody Duterte expressed sadness and regret that the part of his speech mentioning Pope Francis in relation to the monstrous traffic gridlock in January came across as being disrespectful to the person of His Holiness Pope Francis,” Duterte spokesperson Peter T. Laviña said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon. “It was farthest from his mind and was never his intention. He acknowledges that he should have explained better his point on the matter of that monstrous traffic gridlock. He
also fully understands the reactions of many who, at the very least, are displeased and disappointed, at this unfortunate and regrettable incident,” Laviña added. During the PDP-Laban proclamation at the Century Park Sheraton Hotel, Duterte was cursing for the heavy traffic he himself experienced when Pope Francis arrived in the country early this year. He said it took him five hours to get to the airport. Laviña said Duterte’s strong statement on the incompetence of government to address the traffic problem in Metro Manila “was his expression of anger borne out of the helplessness of the millions of commuters suffering from this daily gridlock.” Some detractors of Duterte, however, were quick to ride on the issue by making it appear the mayor had said something bad against the Pope. One of them was Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, who wrote on his Twitter account: “Mayor Duterte, you can say all you want about politicians but you don’t curse my Pope Francis! #defendthepope.” Laviña said the mayor’s speech was taken out of context. “It was never intended to be directed to the person of His Holiness Pope Francis who has his utmost respect. It was out of exasperation at the inutility of the functionaries in government not only during that his-
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