MANILA - Senate President Vicente Sotto III is trying to broker peace between President Duterte and Catholic Church leaders, saying he is uncomfortable with the ongoing word war between the 2 camps.

Speaking to reporters, Sotto said he is is arranging a possible dialogue between the President and Catholic Church leaders.

"Marami na kasi sa mga kababayan natin ang uncomfortable with the situation. Me nababato at bumabato pabalik ang Palasyo at saka ang members of the Catholic Church, I mean leadership of the Catholic Church, especially the bishops and the priests," he told reporters.

The Senate President said he already sent messages to the leadership of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines leadership about a possible meeting with the President.

"Find out more about their (CBCP) perspective and then at the first chance that I get a chance to talk to the President, we will try to mediate if it's possible at all. If not, at least we tried,” he said, adding that he is hoping to talk to the President this week.

Last week, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo pointed out that it is the Catholic Church’s obligation to point out wrongdoing in government no matter who is President. He said this obligation will stay even if they are under attack or being harassed by the administration.

He added Church leaders will not curse the president but will only point out correction.