Bacolod cathedral told to remove ‘Team Patay’ poster

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City has been told to take down the posters of the so-called “Team Patay” or candidates opposed by the church there for supporting the Reproductive Health (RH) law.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said the election officer ordered the removal because it was oversized.

Over the weekend, the Cathedral posted a “Team Patay and Team Buhay” tarpaulin, which identifies both the anti and pro-RH senatorial candidates.

The tarpaulin was said to be measuring 6 feet by 10 feet while the allowable size is only 2 feet by 3 feet.

The Diocese of Bacolod identified senatorial candidates Juan Edgardo Angara, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Risa Hontiveros, Teddy Casiño, Jack Enrile, as well as party-list groups Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Akbayan and Anak Pawis as members of “Team Patay”

JV Ejercito, Antonio Trillanes IV, Gregorio Honasan II, Mitos Magsaysay, Aquilino Pimentel III, and Cynthia Villar are under “Team Buhay" or candidates who expressed opposition to the law.

Brillantes said they want to know who has the authority to give permission for the posting of propaganda materials since it a church is considered a private establishment.

“Kung maglalagay ang mga simbahan, sino ba ang nagbibigay ng permiso? Sino ba ang may-ari nung simbahan? Baka kailangan nila humingi ng permiso sa Pope or yung bishop of the diocese already has the authority? May konting question lang,” he said.

Section 17 of Comelec Resolution 9615 states that posting of campaign materials are allowed in private places “provided it has the consent of the owner.”

Brillantes noted how they are even uncertain on who they will seek clarification from, whether from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) or concerned local bishops.

For his part, CBCP Secretary General Msgr. Joselito Asis related that the actions in Bacolod were cleared by Bishop Vicente Navarra.

"It's the bishop's call. The CBCP doesn't meddle," he said.

The CBCP official said he does not believe there is anything wrong with the move taken by the bishop.

“We denounce the RH law in our statement. To those who are asking if we reject those who voted in favor of the RH law, the answer is yes,” said Asis.

The administration-backed Team PNoy earlier asked the Catholic Church not to use the RH law to campaign against senatorial bets supportive of it. (HDT/Sunnex)