Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte does not see eye to eye with the church when it comes to the death penalty. While the church promotes compassion for criminals, Duterte is pushing the other way as he favours the reimposition of capital punishment in his country.
In his defence of the death penalty, Duterte said in a recent speech that a tough stance on criminals must be implemented because the country's safety and security can't be ensured unless this is done.
"The bleeding hearts, the priests and all, said there was death penalty before, and nothing happened. Then I can simply say, death penalty didn't work because it wasn't imposed. Every president along the way would just say, one because of the Catholic Church; second the bleeding hearts, because only God can kill. The problem there, I ask you, what if there is no God? So we allow the criminals?" Duterte said, according to The Manila Times.
Duterte clarified that he believes in the existence of God, but that he is continuously asking Him what He is doing to protect innocent babies and children. "So where is now God when a one-year-old baby, 18-months-old baby is taken from the mother's arms [and] brought under a jeep [to be] raped and killed. So where is God?" he said.
"My God, where are you? I believe in God, but that is my perpetual question to Him. Where were you when we needed you? It's not enough to say that at the end of the world, He will judge the living and the dead," Duterte continued.
Duterte said those who are calling on God to bring justice must also be wondering why wars still exist in Iraq and Syria, and why the Islamic State is getting away with carrying out atrocious acts of torture, rape and murder.
"What would be the purpose of all of that if the heartaches, sorrows and agony have already been inflicted in this world?" he asked.
