MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte wants a "working relationship" with the church, his spokesperson said ahead of a dialogue between religious leaders and a committee created by the chief executive.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said he expects the dialogue to be open and frank so each side will be able to understand better each others' position on the issue.

"Tingnan natin kung papaano tayo magkaroon ng working relationship man lang, hindi 'yung palagi na lang tayong naggigiyerahan," he told DZMM, saying Duterte and religious groups share the same beliefs on same-sex marriage and divorce.

"Kung ano ang puwedeng mapagkasunduan, hindi ko pa po alam. Kasi ito po ay open, frank, at candid discussion ng kung may pagkakasunduan. Kung wala, wala. Pero buksan natin ang proseso ng dayalogo," he added.

The team composed of Roque, political strategist and self-proclaimed civic leader Pastor “Boy” Saycon, and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella will begin meeting with Catholic and evangelical church representatives today.

Duterte drew the ire of the church after he called God "stupid" for supposedly allowing His perfect creation to be destroyed by allowing Adam and Eve to commit the original sin in the Creation Story in the Bible.

• Duterte asks: 'Who is this stupid God?'

The country's evangelical churches called the remark "inappropriate for our nation’s president," calling on the President to refrain from making such pronouncements.

Philippines for Jesus movement, a coalition composed of 10 million Christians, also demanded a public apology to God from the President.

Asked about the public apology, Roque said: "I don't think anyone can demand anything from anyone not because he is president pero sabi nga niya sumagot kayo kung gusto niyong sumagot. Ganyan po ang anyo ng malayang pananalita."