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Priest fears for his life after criticizing Duterte

A Roman Catholic priest in the Philippines said that his life is in danger after he criticized President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

Rev. Amado Picardal said earlier this week that he has moved to a “more secure location” after experiencing signs that he is being targeted by hitmen.

“I couldn’t go out for biking, running, walking due to security concerns,” Business Mirror quoted Picardal. “I have left my hermitage in the mountain and transferred to a more secure location to continue my life as a hermit far away out of reach from the death squad.”

Picardal said that he decided to go into hiding after several workers in a Catholic monastery in central Cebu have told him that suspicious men in motorcycles have been roaming the vicinity and asking his whereabouts.

Even though he claims that his life is in danger, Picardal said that he will still testify against the controversial killings under the Duterte administration which were allegedly linked to drugs is he is asked by the International Criminal Court.

Picardal has previously documented the alleged extrajudicial killings under Duterte’s campaign against drugs even before he became president of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque said that the Catholic priest should file for a so-called writ of amparo “if there’s basis for his fears”.

Roque was referring to a high court petition that aims to protect human right if they feel threatened by state forces.

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