Duterte, however, suggested that there must be a God or a supreme being that prevents billions of stars and celestial bodies from colliding in a frequency that could have long threatened the human race.

Last week, he was slammed, including by some of his political allies, for calling God "stupid" in another speech, with one Catholic bishop calling him a "psychopath."

Duterte lamented in that speech that Adam and Eve's sin in Christian theology resulted in all the faithful falling from divine grace.

"Who is this stupid God? This son of a bitch is then really stupid," he said last week. "You were not involved but now you're stained with an original sin ... What kind of a religion is that? That's what I can't accept, very stupid proposition."

Opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV shot back at Duterte by describing him as "one evil man" and his remarks as "very much consistent with the deceitfulness, heartlessness and ruthlessness of his policies."

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has defended his remarks, saying Duterte has the right to express his opinion on religion and cited the president's previous disclosure that he was once sexually abused by a priest.

Duterte on Friday recalled that experience, when he said he and other students were fondled by a foreign Jesuit priest, who has since died.

Amid the criticisms, officials have arranged a meeting between Duterte and the head of the largest association of Catholic bishops on Monday. Filipino bishops opened an annual conference in Manila Saturday and were expected to address Duterte's tirades when they conclude their meeting on Monday.

Some Catholic bishops have been critical of Duterte's brutal crackdown against illegal drugs, which have left thousands of suspects dead in reported clashes with the police, along with his vulgar and expletives-laden speeches. He once called Pope Francis a "son of a bitch" for sparking a monstrous traffic during a 2015 visit in Manila that trapped Duterte for hours. (AP)