Catholic Priest says he has a lot of criminals for Duterte to kill

MANILA, Philippines. Davao City Mayor and presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte’s promise to eradicate criminality and corruption in the country within three to six months has attracted millions of supporters, earning him the top spot in the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

Now, a Catholic priest based in Masbate wants the presidential aspirant to fulfill his promise and kill as many criminals as he can once he assumes presidency.

During Duterte’s visit to Masbate, Father Lorenzo Bautista, rector of the Masbate Cathedral, said in his homily: “Kapag ikaw ang naging Presidente, marami kaming ipapapatay sa iyo.”

(If you become the president, we have a lot of people we want you to kill.)

Fr. Lorenzo Bautista, Rector of Masbate Cathedral, on his msg to Duterte to have criminals killed. @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/WQesmSJM6W

— Cedric Castillo (@cedric_castillo) April 16, 2016

But when asked by GMA news if he was serious about his statement, the clergyman claimed that it was a joke but he is one with Duterte’s plan for a hard proactive way to eliminate crime and corruption.

“Pero kung marami dito ang dapat patayin na involved in the criminalities, corruption, and drugs, I am with him,” Bautista explained.

(If there are many people involved in criminalities, corruption, and drugs who need to be killed, I am with him.)