Malacanang confirmed yesterday that President Rodrigo Duterte will have a “one-on-one” dialogue with the chairman of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that Duterte will meet with CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, as agreed upon during his (Roque’s) meeting with Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia Friday.

“It was agreed (upon) that both State and Church should work together for the benefit of the people,” Roque said in a statement. However, the date of the meeting has yet to be set.

Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, meanwhile, said over the weekend he sees no problem with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Oscar Albayalde meeting with CBCP officials.

In Tondo, Manila to assist fire victims, Go said he did not know whether Albayalde needed to get a clearance for his meeting with CBCP officials.

Valles is known to be a friend of the President’s family. The church leader urged Catholics in a statement to “remain steadfast in faith” and to “reflect on our long-held beliefs.”
“Don’t forget that you have experienced how wonderful, valuable, powerful our faith is – our relationship with God, Virgin Mary, and the Church,” Valles said.

“Let peace rule in our hearts in spite of it all. If we have this in our hearts, we will love and respect others.”

Duterte, on the other hand, has said he was shaking up the tree to elicit a response from church leaders being chided by many Filipinos for their apathy.

“Totoo naman (that’s true),” Duterte said of his controversial comment in his speech during the oath-taking of newly elected Northern Mindanao barangay captains in Cagayan de Oro.