A Catholic bishop critical of the government's drug war bared he has been receiving death threats.

Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said the threats come from unknown people and began two weeks ago, according to a report by CBCP News published Tuesday.

This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to the public not to harm leaders of the Catholic Church, despite repeatedly urging drug addicts and criminals to maul, kill and steal from moneyed bishops.

• Duterte urges public not to harm Catholic church leaders

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle earlier told Duterte, through a text message sent to former aide Bong Go, that several bishops have been receiving death threats following the President’s tirades against supposed corruption in the Catholic Church.

Duterte has denied that the threats were coming from him.

Earlier Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte was not discrediting the Church when he said the Catholic faith might no longer be around in 25 years due to sexual abuse allegations.

Duterte's remarks came as the Vatican concluded a 4-day summit on widespread clerical sexual abuse that has taken the Catholic Church by storm.

- Jaehwa Bernardo, ABS-CBN News