Duterte: The Pope will understand me

FILE: Davao Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte (Photo from Duterte’s official website)

MANILA—Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said the Pope will understand his expletive remark directed at the head of the universal Catholic Church as the Pope is compassionate.

“Compassionate si Pope. Maiintindihan niya ako. Kayo man maihi sa loob ng sasakyan, matutuwa ba kayo (The Pope is compassionate. He will understand me. If you happen to urinate inside your cars, would you be happy?)” Duterte was quoted as saying in a Philippine Star report.

Duterte did not apologize for his expletives remarks as it was not directed at the Pope, the Philippine Star reported. He said that the foul statement he made yesterday was a reflection of his anger towards the government’s mismanagement of the Papal visit that caused disruption to the daily activities of the public.

Meanwhile, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Duterte’s running-mate defended the mayor and said that the mayor’s expletive remark was not directed at the Pope.

“I think he was not referring to the Pope because I have heard him talk about that many times. He was talking about (how) you should not close streets and inconvenience people for anyone in the world,” Cayetano was quoted as saying in the same report.