DEDMA lamang ang Palasyo sa naging parinig ni Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle matapos ang kanyang sermón sa pagdiriwang ng Araw ng Palaspas kahapon kung saan nagbabala siya laban sa mga ‘haring arogante’.
Sa isang ambush interview, iginiit ni Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo na hindi nararamdaman ng administrasyon na si Pangulong Duterte ang tinutukoy ni Tagle.
“Oh, I’m sure he is referring to world leaders not from this country. I don’t think this administration feels alluded to or the leaders in this administration,” sabi ni Panelo.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Tagle sa kanyang sermon, napaka-arogante ng mga “hari” at idinagdag na sumusunod ang mga tao sa mga ito sa kabila ng paggamit ng karahasan.
“Because I think the actions of this administration speak for themselves. We have not initiated violence against innocent people. The police officers only respond to any assault on their lives in the process of arrest. And the President has always would not tolerate any police abuse. He keeps on saying that there will be hell to pay if any violation of human rights is done by any police officer. So, I think Cardinal Tagle is referring to world leaders who are violent and cocky,” ayon pa kay Panelo.
Idinagdag ni Panelo na taliwas ang paglalarawan ni Tagle sa karakter ni Duterte.
“He is a very humble person, he is soft-hearted person who is outraged by any kind of assault on any person, on human rights violations. He is one defender of every citizen’s rights and under the Constitution he is mandated to serve and to protect the people and he is just doing that,” giit ni Panelo.