Tugon ito ng Palasyo sa hamon ni Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP Permanent Committee on Public Affairs, na paatunayan na hindi galing sa gobyerno ang death threats laban kina Fr. Albert Alejo, Fr. Flavie Villanueva at Fr. Robert Reyes.
Ayon kay Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo sa ganitong paraan ay maka-pagsasagawa ng imbestigasyon ang kinauukulan na tanggapan ng pamahalaan at mabibigyan na rin ng proteksyon ang tatlong pari.
Sinabi pa ni Panelo na nasa mga pari ang responsibilidad na patunayan na may pagbabanta sa kanilang buhay.
“On the demand that the government shows proof that the threats to the priests did not come from it. Suffice it to state that it is elementary in law that the one who alleges must prove. Since the priests are the ones accusing the government or the President as being behind those death threats, it stands to reason that they have to prove their accusation. The burden of proof lies on them Our position is that they bring their concern officially to any law enforcement agency so that the latter may conduct an investigation, and at the same time secure their safety ” ayon kay Panelo.
Base sa akusasyon ng tatlong pari, ang gobyerno o si Pangulong Duterte ang nasa likod umano ng mga death threat.