ZAMBOANGA CITY—Vice President Leni Robredo urged government officials to be sensitive to different religious beliefs, a reminder in the wake of President Rodrigo Duterte's repeated verbal attacks on the Catholic Church.

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According to Robredo, the right to express oneself is not absolute.

"Ako, kailangan nating . . . paalalahanan hindi lang si Pangulong Duterte, pero iyong lahat na government officials kagaya namin, na totoo na mayroon tayong karapatang magpahayag ng saloobin natin, totoong may karapatan tayo ng sariling pananampalataya, pero lahat ng karapatan may kaakibat na obligasyon," Robredo said.

"At obligasyon natin na siguruhin na hindi natin ma-o-offend iyong mga sensitivities ng mga tao, hindi natin na-o-offend iyong religious beliefs ng mga tao, hindi nang-iinsulto, dahil iyon iyong obligasyon natin. At ito iyong kaakibat ng ating karapatan."

Robredo added she is not in favor of arming priests and village officials.

"Ang ibig sabihin nito, in-admit na natin na 'yun na lang yung tanging solusyon na naiiwan. Pero kung ako ang tatanungin hindi ito ang solusyon. Tingan natin bakit ba nagiging ganito, bakit ba tumataas ang crime rate?" the vice president said.

"Despite the fact na maraming ng sinubukan na programa 'yung gobyerno. Gusto ba nitong sabihin na hindi effective ang programa ng gobyerno? Kahit anong ginawa niyang pagsubok hindi naa-arrest ang crime rate."

Robredo was in this city to launch an empowerment program that would benefit indigenous communities. — With a report from Jewel Reyes, ABS-CBN News

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