Malacañang advised Roman Catholic priest Fr. Amado Picardal to file a writ of amparo before the court after he said that he went into hiding after motorcycle-riding hit men reportedly targeted him.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Picardal should seek legal remedy instead of simply declaring that his life is in danger.
Picardal on Sunday said he had gone into a “more secure location” after workers at the Redemptorist monastery in Cebu City, which he regularly visits, said that they have seen motorcycle-riding men watching the compound and some even inquired into his whereabouts.
READ: Priest bares threat from ‘death squad’
“His remedy is to file a writ for amparo with the Supreme Court or any court. It can be filed even in the lower courts and it will be acted upon expeditiously,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.
“Ang sa akin lang, tama na po ‘yang declaration sa media. Kung talagang may banta, gamitin iyong instrumento para magkaroon ng proteksiyon – at mayroon na po tayong writ of amparo (Let’s stop these media declarations. If there is really a threat, use the legal instrument for protection. We have the writ of amparo),” he said.
Picardal, who has helped document the alleged extrajudicial killings in Davao City when President Rodrigo Duterte was still a city mayor, said, “I almost became a victim of extrajudicial killing and the fourth priest to be killed under the Duterte regime had I stuck to my routine.” /ee