MANILA - On All Saints’ Day no less, President Rodrigo Duterte made a mockery of the Catholic tradition of honoring saints, saying they are “gago” (fools) and “lasenggo” (drunk).

Duterte made this yet another controversial comment as he presided over a post-typhoon situation briefing in Isabela on Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day.

“Sabagay itong t****** talaga itong mga Katolikong p***. Bakit naman may All Souls’ Day tapos may All Saints’ Day?” Duterte said.

“Hindi nga natin alam kung sino 'yang mga santo na ‘yon. Sino ‘yung mga g*** na 'yon? Mga lasenggo.”

(We don't even know who these saints are. They're foolish, drunkards.)

Duterte then uttered his oft-repeated joke about just establishing his own church which venerates “Santo Rodrigo.”

“Dito na lang kayo. I'll give you one pat --- ah isang patron na ano para hindi na kayo mag-pasyal. Get hold of a picture of mine. 'Yan ang ilagay niyo sa altar — Santo Rodrigo,” he said.

(Choose me. Only one patron so you don't have to go places. Put my picture in the altar — Saint Rodrigo.)

Duterte said this on the same day he issued his message for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day wherein he urged Filipinos to “emulate our saints.”

• Duterte to Filipinos: Be like the saints

The President has repeatedly courted outrage from Catholics and their leaders with his jokes and attacks against the Church.

Earlier this year, he called God “stupid” and questioned several Catholic beliefs, such as the one on creation and the concept of heaven and hell.

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

Duterte has been hostile to the Church partly because of the latter’s criticism of his war on drugs and other policies.