‘Running priest’ prays over lawmakers
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 12:10:00 12/02/2008
Filed Under: Congress, Agrarian Reform, Impeachment, Charter change, Politics
MANILA, Philippines -- Farmers accompanied by Father Robert Reyes have brought before the House of Representatives their demand to extend the life of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), which is expiring by yearend.
Only the “running priest,” however, made it to the doors of the session hall as the farmers where barred from entering, he said.
Reyes then donned his running outfit and read a prayer. He also prayed over the lawmakers for enlightenment and for them to be responsive to the needs of the people.
"Narito kami upang ialay ang panalangin at takbo upang hindi tuluyang mamatay ang batas, sa halip magkaroon na ng bagong batas [We are hear to offer a prayer and a run so that the law, instead of letting it die, would be amended]," he said, referring to the extension of the CARP.
He also prayed that lawmakers would stick to the truth in discussing the impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which is expected to be tackled in plenary later this Tuesday.
From the House, Reyes will run up to the Department of Agrarian Reform office at the Elliptical Road in Quezon City.
The CARP law expired in June 13 without Congress voting on its extension, but lawmakers passed a resolution declaring that the agrarian reform program would expire in December instead and that land distribution would continue.
The measure has yet to be tackled on the floor as the lawmakers have been preoccupied with the Arroyo impeachment, Charter change, the reproductive health bill, and several inquiries such as the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.
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