CBCP president  Villegas to Duterte: Catholic Church not your enemy

On President Rodrigo Duterte's assumption into office on Thursday, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), reassured him of the Church's support.

Villegas said the Church will support the Duterte administration but will keep a watchful eye during his term.

The bishop also expressed hope that Duterte would not see the Church as an enemy on occassions when the Church and the government could not agree on certain issues.

During the presidential campaign and even after the elections, Duterte had strongly criticized the Catholic Church, saying he will expose the alleged secrets and sins of the clergy. 

Duterte even announced a date — June 29, a day before his scheduled assumption into office — on when he would divulge the alleged sins. No such revelation was made.

Villegas, on the other hand, took the opposite path, insisting on remaining silent amid Duterte's attacks against the Church.

In a statement entitled “Understanding Silence,” Villegas said,  "There is virtue in silence. There is virtue in speech. Wisdom is knowing when it is time for silence and when is the timing for speech." 

"Mine is the silence of Jesus before the arrogance of Pilate," Villegas said, adding, “Silence indeed is the language of God and only those who speak silence will be able to grasp Him.” — Joseph Tristan Roxas/VVP, GMA News