Netizens couldn’t stop themselves from criticizing a Catholic Priest for his comments about the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak.
A few days ago, Father Eric Sarmiento Salamat earned negative comments from the netizens after he made a post suggesting that the people who got infected by the 2019-nCoV should be put in President Rodrigo Duterte’s room.
Salamat also mentioned Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, a close political ally of the President on his now-deleted Facebook post.
In his post, the priest wrote:
“May 2 places lang sana na pwedeng i-confine ang mga Intsik na nasa Pinas na positive sa coronavirus:
1. Sa kwarto ni Pres. Digong
2. Sa kwarto ni Sen. Bong Go…
Tapos magkwentuhan sila dun ng mga chekwang fairy tales.”
Despite getting deleted, netizens archived the post and reshared it on social media.
Salamat’s post captured the attention of the netizens, including social media blogger Ahmed Paglinawan who expressed his desire to meet the priest personally.
He even asked the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Romulo Valles, if he knows Fr. Salamat personally.
“Ninong Muloy Valles, Do you know this guy? Can you introduce me to him please? I need to see what’s going on in his head. A bit about that racism he has going on in there,” Paglinawan said.
Some netizens even questioned if Salamat is really a Catholic because his comment seems to lack sensitivity.
“Imbes ipagdasal ni Father ung mga Chinese n may skit.. Gnyan p cnasabi nya.. Hey, Father, anuman pong lahi, katoliko man o hindi.. nilikha cla ng Diyos, mpagmahal ang Panginoon, sna gnun ka din.. Kaya minsan ako bilang Katoliko (Roman Catholic) nwawalan ng gana mkinig s mga kparian, homily hinahaluan ng politics.. Mas gusto ko pa mkinig sa preach ng mga Born Again Christian.. Haist,” netizen Anne Magaway commented.
“Ano ba yan kya nakakawalang gana magsimba dahil sa mga paring kagaya nto.. Ipinagdadasal ko sa dyos na yung paring ganito at mga tao na ang pagiisip ai baluktot at puro kagalitancang laman ng puso at isipan naway paglinawin ng panginoon ang isipan nyo.. Nakakalungkot na mismo tga simbahan pa ang nag nagpapakalat ng hate,” netizen Wowie Aspiras remarked.
As of writing, Salamat is not yet releasing a statement on the criticisms he received. His Facebook profile is also nowhere to be found.