Malacañang on Wednesday, June 27, said President Rodrigo Duterte will not issue a public apology following the request of Bro. Eddie Villanueva for the president to apologize over his ‘stupid God’ remark.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said: “The God [I] know would not demand public apologies” saying himself and Villanueva have different opinions.
“The God that I know is a God of love and He’s too big for any words that may come from the mouth of a mortal,” Roque said in a press briefing referring to the letter sent by Villanueva of the Philippines for Jesus Movement asking Duterte’s apology to God.
Roque admitted that he has not read Villanueva’s letter yet, but said that his God only wishes “healing for everyone.”
“I am certain that the God that I know will not demand for a public apology,” Roque added.
Earlier, Duterte’s committee, composed of Roque, political strategist Pastor “Boy” Saycon, and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, met with the leaders of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC).
PCEC leaders said they were “immensely offended” by Duterte’s remarks but welcomed his efforts to create a committee to hold talks with leaders of Catholic and Christian groups.
“What happened became a blessing in disguise because this opened up an opportunity for the Christian church and the body of Christ to be able to have a dialogue with the leaders of the nation and hopefully with the President in the coming days so we can pray for him and express our desire to support in the building of the nation,” PCEC national director Bishop Noel Pantoja said.
Roque added that Duterte might also personally meet with PCEC leaders to “start the process of healing and moving forward.”
