MANILA — The church, "under any circumstance," will not seek to overthrow the government, an official of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines said Thursday.

Political strategist Pastor "Boy" Saycon was quoted as saying in media reports that a destabilization plot against President Rodrigo Duterte was brewing after his comments on the biblical story of creation stirred public uproar.

Saycon is part of 4-man committee tasked by the President to dialogue with church leaders.

"The church preaches non-violence and sobriety and would not, under any circumstance, actively seek to overthrow the government," said Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, chairman of the CBCP's permanent committee on public affairs.

Duterte asks: 'Who is this stupid God?'

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said he did not believe allegations church leaders were behind the purported destabilization, when asked about Saycon's remarks

"Kampante po ang Presidente sa kanyang pananampalataya, kampante ang simbahan sa kanilang misyon. Ang ninanais lang natin ang dalawang institusyon ay makapagsilbi nang mas mabuti sa ating lipunan," Roque said in a Palace briefing.

(The President is secure with his faith. The Church is secure with its mission. The two institutions only want to serve society.)

Saycon is a "newbie" who must be briefed about communication protocol, Roque said.

"Siguro dahil bagito pa lang sa gobyerno (Maybe because he is a government newbie), we will give them a thorough briefing on how we go about releasing information to the public," he said. – with a report from Raffy Santos, ABS-CBN News

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