Biking priest decides to walk, run for peace talks

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—He pedaled across the nation twice in a bid to call attention to a number of issues, including the peace process and the environment.

On his next journey, however, Fr. Amado Picardal has decided to just jog and walk.

Picardal started his long walk from this city to Aparri, Cagayan, to draw attention to the need for government to strike peace deals with communist and Moro guerrillas.

Running is not new to Picardal who had become known as the “biking priest,” however.

In 2010, he walked and ran for 800 kilometers, from France to Spain. It was a pilgrimage, he said.

Now, his journey on foot will be longer—covering about 2,000 km for 57 days from this city to Aparri, Cagayan.

He said he will make several stopovers to campaign for support for peace talks with communist and separatist guerrillas.

“I am praying that a peace agreement would finally be reached,” he said.

The priest said he also wanted to hand-carry a letter to President Aquino that contains his views on another issue close to his heart—the reproductive health bill that is now being called responsible parenthood bill.

Picardal said he doesn’t expect to meet Mr. Aquino. “I will just leave the letter at the guard house and go on my way,” the priest said.

He hopes to get more than just routine courtesy from Mr. Aquino. “Under P-Noy, I expect more because I know that he will truly listen,” he said. Dennis Jay Santos, Inquirer Mindanao