Marathon to put pressure on Ramos

Marathon to put pressure on Ramos

MANILA (AFP): A Roman Catholic priest will run a 3,000 kilometer marathon across the Philippine archipelago to put pressure on President Fidel Ramos not to run for a new term in 1998, a Manila newspaper said yesterday.

Father Roberto Reyes, 41, plans to cover the distance over two years, starting with an 18 day, 1,000-kilometer run on the southern island of Mindanao from Nov. 3, the Philippine Inquirer said.

"I run for freedom, especially at a time when those who wield political power seem not to have had enough and wish to prolong their political Mardi Gras while the masses languish in misery," the daily quoted the priest as saying.

Ramos has denied he has any plans to remain in office after June 30, 1998, noting he is barred from seeking a second term.

But his supporters have been agitating for a constitutional amendment to remove the ban, arguing the country needs the former general, the architect of far-reaching reforms, to sustain its economic growth.