MANILA, Philippines – A Roman Catholic priest who was one of the earliest critics of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly crackdown on drugs has gone into hiding due to what he says were signs he’s being targeted by motorcycle-riding hitmen.
The Rev. Amado Picardal said Monday that he has gone into a “more secure location” and out of the public view after workers in a Catholic monastery that he visits in central Cebu city reported seeing motorcycle-riding men watching the compound, including a pair who asked for his whereabouts.
“I couldn’t go out for biking, running, walking due to security concerns,” Picardal said in an email in response to questions about his safety concerns, which he first disclosed in a personal blog.
“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,” he said.
Read more at Fox:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/08/27/catholic-priest-says-life-in-danger-for-criticizing-duterte.html