Cops, soldiers block Biking Priest from delivering letter to Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines - Police and armed members of the Philippine Air Force on Sunday blocked and prevented Catholic “biking priest” Fr. Amado Picardal from personally delivering his letter to President Gloria Macapagl Arroyo in Malacañang. GMA’s Flash Report reported that a certain Francis Mambuag, who introduced himself as member of the Presidential Security Group, forcibly took Fr. Picardal’s letter and told the priest that he will be the one to deliver it to President Arroyo. Fr. Picardal, who was wit eight other cyclists, when he went to Malacañang, started his "Bike for Life and Peace" last March 24, from Davao City in Mindanao. He has traveled to northern areas in Luzon and is on his return leg. In his letter to the President, he appealed that she abandon her all out war policy and resume the peace process with the National Democratic Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, investigate thoroughly the extrajudicial killings, bring the perpetrators to justice, and put an end to these killings. Picardal also asked President rroyo to protect the environment by implementing a total log ban, repealing the mining act and banning aerial spraying, and allow the investigation of corruption to continue even if it involves people close to her. She should not invoke her executive privilege in these investigations, and come up with stringent measures to prevent corruption in all levels of government, he added. After his Malacañang trip Sunday, he will tour Manila then proceed to Lucena City in Quezon province. His 56-day journey has covered more than 5,000 km across the country from Davao to Aparri via Bukidnon, Bohol, Cebu, Negros, Panay and Mindanao, and back to Davao via Cordillera, Bicol, Samar, Leyte and Eastern Mindanao. - GMANews.TV