Rodrigo Duterte was furious about concerns by the Catholic church of alleged extrajudicial killings during his war on drugs, and lambasted clergymen for denouncing him instead of using their influence to help end addiction. Jesus Dureza said the pontiff had told him he would bless the Philippines, and “also bless your president”. In a speech to police officers, the firebrand leader of one of only two majority Catholic Asian countries challenged the church to a “showdown” and threatened to expose priests and bishops for a litany of abuses. What is the meaning of it?”The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines made no immediate comment about the attack. Dureza was at the Vatican to deliver a letter from the president, thanking the pope for his 2015 visit to the Philippines.

Source: The Guardian January 19, 2017 12:11 UTC