MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday took on God Himself following his recent tirades against the Catholic Church.

Duterte, an open critic of the Catholic Church, explained that he found fault in the creation story in the Bible and questioned God's logic, saying He is "stupid."

"Who is this stupid God? Estupido talaga itong p***** i** kung ganun. You created some --- something perfect and then you think of an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of your work," he said in a speech during the opening of the 2018 National ICT Summit in Davao City.

The President, a Catholic, had begun by saying that he found it foolish for God to create something "perfect" and then allow the first humans, Adam and Eve, to ruin it by bringing sin into existence because of the forbidden fruit.

"Ang ginawa niya --- kinain ni Eve. Tapos si Eve ginising si Adam. Siguro katatapos lang. Kumain ka rin. So kinain ni Adam. Then malice was born," he said.

(Eve ate it and then woke Adam up and asked him to eat it as well. Adam ate it and then malice was born.)

"So tayo ngayon, all of us are born with an original sin. Ang original sin --- ah sin --- ano man ‘yan? Was it the first kiss? O… What was the sin? Bakit original? Nasa womb ka pa, may kasalanan ka na," he added.

(Now all of us are born with an original sin. What is the original sin? Was it the first kiss? What was the sin? Why is it original. You're still in your mother's womb and yet to already have a sin.)

Duterte then asked: "How can you rationalize a God? Maniwala ka (Would you believe in one)?"

The President said he could not accept the concept of having an original sin.

"Eh ‘yan ang hindi ko matanggap. Very stupid proposition. Anong kasalanan? Original sin, tapos i-baptize ka. Basain pa ‘yang ulo mo ng tubig. Maniwala ka niyang pari na ‘yan," he said.

(I cannot accept that. Very stupid proposition. What sin? Original sin and then they will baptize you. Your head will even be washed with [holy] water. And you'll even believe that priest.)

He, however, clarified that he believes there is a "universal mind."

"Ako, I believe that is a universal mind. But to what extent is the influence of that… You know, I cannot picture Him as a human being in the image of God," he said.

"I… But I really believe there’s a… I have this faith and abiding thing about... Pero ‘yang relihiyon? Sus maniwala kayo diyan. Tama ‘yung ano mo…" he added.

This is not the first time that Duterte criticized God. In the past, he had questioned God's presence whenever crimes occur.

• Duterte asks: What if there is no God?

Duterte has been vocal about his grievances against the Catholic leadership in the Philippines, some of whom have been staunch critics of his war on drugs.

The President has accused the Catholic hierarchy of pretending to be “saints” despite their transgressions while labeling the police and soldiers as demons.

Critics, meanwhile, have been saying that Duterte’s tirades against priests and the Catholic Church have emboldened those behind the killing of 3 Catholic priests over the last 6 months.

Earlier this week, the President, however, maintained that he respects the Catholic Church.

• Duterte: I respect the Catholic Church

Duterte in the past has advised his critics to take up their problems with him to God.

• Duterte to critics: Take your complaints to God

"If you have something against me or my mouth or my character, go to God and complain. Siya ang may gawa. He is the one to be blamed," Duterte said in an exclusive interview with ANC last year.

"Why should I change? God made me the way I am. God gave me this identity and God gave me this mouth," he added.

• CBCP official: Priests, laymen 'at a loss' over Duterte's tirades
• Better for Church not to engage Duterte in word war, CBCP official says