Philippine Asian News Today Vol 20 No 16 | Page 25

August 16 - 31, 2018
PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY
RELIGIOUS
FOCUS: FATHER AMADO
PICARDAL
COMING
DOWN
THE
MOUNTAIN, EVADING THE DEATH
SQUAD
Two weeks ago (August 11) , I
almost became a victim of extrajudicial
killing and the 4th priest to be killed
under the Duterte Regime had I stuck
to my routine.
For over four months, I have been
living a quiet life as a hermit on top of
the mountain overlooking the city of
Cebu, spending my time in silence,
solitude, prayer and writing.
I usually go down to the
Redemptorist monastery in Cebu
twice a month to bond with my fellow
Redemptorists, check my email and
FB, get my food supplies and go to
the coffee shop nearby before dinner.
At first, I didn’t realize this routine
would put my life at risk.
Since 2017, I was receiving
information that the death squad was
going to target priests and that I was
on top of the list.
When the three priests were
killed, I was certain that I could be
next. I even received