By Raymund Antonio Amid his repeated rants against bishops and priests, Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday asked President Rodrigo Duterte to spare the Catholic Church from his attacks. Vice President Leni Robredo (Photo by OVP/ MANILA BULLETIN) Robredo, in her weekly radio show, claimed that when Duterte hits the Church, he speaks out against his own people. “Hindi ko alam bakit kailangan siraan ‘yung simbahan. Wala namang institusyon na perpekto pero hindi rin tama na sisiraan mo kung may galit ka sa pari o kanino man, hiwalay ‘yun,” she said. (I don’t know why he attacks the Church. No institution is perfect, but it’s not right to discredit it if you’re angry at one priest or anyone.) “Kasi iyong simbahan tayo ‘yun eh, kabuuan iyon. Ang simbahan kasama ‘yung mga nananampalataya,” Robredo said. (Because we are the Church in its entirety. The Church includes the faithful.) Duterte, leader of a predominantly Catholic country, has been attacking the Church in his speeches. Just recently, he said bishops should be killed because they know nothing but criticize his administration. Some Catholic prelates have been critical of Duterte’s bloody war against drugs. Among them is Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, whom he accused to be involved in illegal drugs. This followed his tirade that David was stealing money from church donations. The Vice President came to the defense of David as she cited his work in taking care of people and their families who were affected by the administration’s drug war. Instead of attacking the Catholic Church, Robredo said that prelates should be charged in court if they commit any wrongdoings.