Catholic priest criticizes pro-Duterte rally for misusing religious space

Monsignor Gaspar Balerite, vicar general of the Diocese of Catarman in Northern Samar, criticized organizers of a pro-Duterte rally for allegedly using religious space to campaign for senatorial candidate Rodante Marcoleta.

Balerite later discovered that the rally was organized to support former President Rodrigo Duterte who faces arrest for alleged crimes against humanity during his war on drugs.

The priest emphasized in Tagalog that participants were being misled by pro-Duterte groups and pointed out Marcoleta's affiliation with the Iglesia Ni Cristo, suggesting misuse of Catholic venues.

Balerite holds significant influence within Catarman’s Catholic community as vicar general under Bishop Nolly Camingue Buco.

The Diocese oversees Northern Samar, home to 671,000 Catholics according to 2016 estimates from the Union of Catholic Asian News.