KALOOKAN Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who is a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, is now the leader of the influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
The
62-year old prelate will lead his brother bishops until Nov. 30, 2023, together
with Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara as vice-president and
Leyte Archbishop John Du as treasurer.
Before
becoming president, Bishop David served as vice-president of the
conference, where he earned the ire of Duterte for criticizing his war on
illegal drugs.
In
2018, Duterte accused Bishop David of being an addict because of the prelate’s
remarks and efforts against extra-legal killings in his diocese. “I’m telling
you, David. I’m wondering why you keep going out at night. I’m thinking that
you fucker are probably into [illegal] drugs,” said Duterte in a speech.
Bishop
David denied the accusations, saying he had never taken any kind of drugs.
“Into drugs? No, sir, I’m not into drugs of any sort, whether legal or illegal.
Never been. I only help in rehabilitating people addicted to drugs. Thank God,
I am not taking any maintenance drugs yet. I only take vitamins with fruit
shake … You may want to try it, sir,” replied Bishop David.
In
2019, Duterte called Bishop David a “son of a whore” for allegedly using the
pulpit to attack the policies of the government in solving the drug menace in
the country. The prelate hit back by saying his mother did not deserve to be
insulted and called a whore.
“[Duterte]
called me a son of a whore for allegedly attacking him from the church pulpit —
which I have never ever done,” said David in a statement posted on Facebook.
“Our family does not expect anyone in government to give her recognition for
her immense contribution in nation-building. But we do not expect anyone either
to insult her memory and call her a whore. She does not deserve it,” he added.
Catholics
were looking forward to Bishop David’s leadership, particularly on where the
bishops would stand in the upcoming elections.
“I hope
our bishops will take a collective stand to guide the electorate of who to vote
for. I know Bishop David is a fighter for human rights. But how about the rest
of the bishops? Can Bishop David convince his brother bishops to join his
crusade?” asked Manila parishioner Melvin De Guzman.
De Guzman
also said the Philippines is blessed to have an outspoken bishop who would lead
the steering wheel of the bishops’ conference towards justice and peace. “I
share the same sentiment of many of our countrymen. We need more outspoken
bishops, especially when the rights of the poor are trampled on. We need a shepherd’s
voice to assure that God’s flock will be protected,” De Guzman added. (John
Peter Calleja / UCAN)
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