Sotto still wants to mediate between Duterte, Church
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2019 09:08:39 +0000
SOTTO (FB photo)
Senate President Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III refused to be discouraged from pursuing his plan to mediate between President Duterte and leaders of the Catholic Church, after opposition Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV on Thursday wished him good luck and said his plan to hold a dialogue between the Chief Executive and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines will end in vain.
“Thank you for wishing me luck. Better to try than never. I don’t give up that easily,” Sotto said in text message to reporters Friday.
The Senate leader maintained that he is keen on pursuing the reconciliation of the two sides. He earlier said he will formally communicate with CBCP officials and Duterte to understand their perspectives.
Trillanes expressed doubts that the intended Duterte-Church dialogue would be successful.
He believed it would end up like other failed attempts to patch things up between the country’s top official and leaders of the Church, because Duterte, he said, is already “beyond salvation.”
“Hindi ba ilang beses na nilang sinubukan? Talagang Satanista itong si Duterte, eh, wala nang magagawa doon. Nakita nyo naman pati si Jesus ininsulto na, eh. Hindi na ‘yan, wala na magagawa diyan, beyond salvation, beyond redemption na ‘yan,” Trillanes said.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo hit back at Trillanes for his “Satanist” remark, saying the opposition lawmaker “may be referring to himself.” (Vanne Terrazola)