“I confirm that Archbishop Valles is coming this afternoon. However, it is designated as a private meeting and PMS advised me that even I can’t enter because it will be a one-on-one meeting between Archbishop Valles and the President,” sabi ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
Ito’y sa kabila naman ng panibagong banat ni Duterte kung saan sinabi niyang handa siyang magbitiw sakaling may makapagpakita ng selfie kasama ang Diyos.
“You know this was arranged by the President and Archbishop Valles directly. So much as we would have wanted to come up with an agenda, they agreed on the date and time of the meeting. It will be a meeting only between the two Presidents ‘no – the President of the CBCP and President Duterte. So I do not know what exactly they will be discussing,” dagdag pa ni Roque.
Samantala, kinumpirma rin ni Roque na dumalo siya sa dinner na imbitasyon ni dating pangulo at ngayon ay Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo kasama ang 18 bishop.
“Now I confirm that last night, I had dinner with around 18 bishops at the residence of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It was a social dinner although there were prayers said and there was of course a general consensus that the Church and State should work together in upholding the general welfare of the people,” ayon pa kay Roque.
Kasabay nito, sinabi ni Roque na inaasahan din ang paglalabas ng pastoral letter ng Simbahan Katolika.
“Well, I would lie if I were to say no and actually brought it up at least one person, one bishop—Archbishop did but there was no substantial discussion on it because everyone’s awaiting the meeting between Archbishop Valles and the President ‘no. There was also no agreement yet on when they will issue the pastoral letter.,” sabi pa ni Roque.
Wala pa namang petsa kung kailan ang pagpupulong sa pagitan ng komite na binuo ni Duterte at ng Simbahan.
“No date yet. We are awaiting the results of the one-on-one meeting this afternoon. But I did try, I said, ‘Can I at least be there?’ And they said, ‘No, it’s one-on-one.’ So I asked, ‘Can I at least linger around in case the President asks for me?’ They said, ‘You can’t and it is going to be a closed door,” dagdag ni Roque.