AKIPRESS.COM - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has called God "stupid", sparking anger in the largely Catholic country, BBC reported.

In a televised speech, he slammed the story of Adam and Eve's fall from grace in the Bible and the logic behind the Christian concept of original sin.

Mr Duterte is well known known for his outrageous statements and unfiltered attacks on his rivals.

While the church and many citizens condemned his remarks, his office said he was expressing personal beliefs.

The president has in the past also criticised the Pope in crude language and has racked up a string of other statements widely deemed as highly offensive, cruel or misogynist.

His latest comments came at a speech in Davao, the city he governed as a mayor before running as president.