MANILA (SE): An uncharacteristic hush has come over the normally garrulous Philippine bishops since the president-elect, Rodrigo Duterte, launched a stinging attack on several of their members and the Church in general in mid-May.

The Mouth from the South referred to the bishops as sons of bitches and called the Church the most hypocritical of all institutions, as well as threatening to name those who have children or a few skeletons stored in their cupboards.

SYDNEY (SE): As Australia wades through its longest ever election campaign on the torturous road to the July 2 polling day, the bishops of the Land Down Under have released a strong appeal for Christians to pressure political parties for an end to what they call the throwaway culture espoused by the two candidates for the top job, the incumbent prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and opposition leader, Bill Shorten.

The greatest upset in Philippine presidential elections this past May 9 has been the phenomenal ninety-day campaign by the then little-known mayor of Davao City in Mindanao-—Rodrigo Duterte, a one term congress member but mayor for more than two decades. He rose to national prominence three months ago by being his own true self.

MANILA (Agencies): Some 42,252 prison detainees across The Philippines got to cast their vote during the May 9 elections, CBCP News reported on May 10.

“We recognise the rights of the detainees to vote and choose their respective candidates,” Richard Schwarzkopf Jr., the superintendent of New Bilibid Prison, Metro Manila, said.

MANILA (Agencies): Only one of the three Catholic priests-turned politicians succeeded in their election bids for public office.

Father Jeemar Vera Cruz, from the Iligan diocese, was proclaimed the new vice-mayor of Iligan City for a first term on May 10.

Vera Cruz, former vicar general of the diocese, defeated acting vice-mayor Providencio Abragan by over 12,000 votes.