Team Patay posters removed from Plaza: Senatoriable Eddie Villanueva is glad he's not part of it

CEBU, Philippines - The controversial tarpaulins bearing “Team Buhay” and “Team Patay” lists of candidates posted at Plaza Hamabar, a few steps from the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, were removed yesterday by Cebu City Parks and Playgrounds Commission.

Parks administrator Arlie Gesta said they removed the tarpaulins after coordinating with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) 7 officials who took photos of the tarpaulins for the agency's documentation.

Gesta earlier said whoever posted the tarpaulin at the city-owned plaza did not inform their office before mounting the material at Plaza Hamabar's sidewalk.

“We removed them past 2 p.m. today (Tuesday) after Atty. (Temie) Lambino informed us this (Tuesday) noon that they are done taking pictures. I immediately ordered our staff to remove the tarps,” Gesta told The Freeman.

Lambino earlier ordered his election officer to take photos of the tarpaulin to kick-off a formal investigation.

“We will forward the photos to our head office legal department. As soon as they get it, an investigation will proceed,” the regional election official said.

However, the same tarpaulins posted in other parishes in Cebu City have not been removed.

Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Youth Coordinating Council president Dean Carlo Sagrado said the tarpaulin can still be found at their parish.

While church officials have denied participation in posting the tarpaulins, Cebu Archdiocese Episcopal vicar Msgr. Esteban Binghay earlier insisted these are not election campaign but more of awareness drive.

Lambino clarified a temporary restraining order (TRO) for a similar tarpaulin posted in a church in the  Archdiocese of Bacolod cannot be used for the ones posted in Cebu.

“The TRO for Bacolod is not applicable in Cebu. We will have them removed,” he added.

Meanwhile, Bangon Pilipinas lone senatorial candidate, Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva, is thankful that he is not involved in the controversial Team Patay and Team Buhay campaign.

Villanueva was in Cebu yesterday when news broke out that tarpaulins bearing the lists of candidates under Team Patay and Team Buhay have reached Cebu and were posted in some churches premises.

Team Patay refers to the candidates who voted for the passage of Reproductive Health (RH) bill while the Team Buhay referred to the candidates who oppose it.

Villanueva said that it could be the freedom of the Roman Catholic church to do so and it could also be the freedom of the concerned people to defend themselves.

“I thank God because I'm not involved in this controversy but my stand for RH bill has been so consistent,” Villanueva told The  Freeman.

As presiding chairman of the Philippines for Jesus Coalition Movement, Villanueva said that there was heated debate on the issue because their group was divided.

“What I did was I conducted a healthy debate and told them let's discuss this objectively, not emotion driven but wisdom driven,” he said.

Consistent with his stand, Villanueva emphasized that he is against all forms and all kinds of abortion, however he is in favor of sound family planning and he is in favor of responsible parenthood program.

“It's high time to teach and educate the couples how to produce children accordingly and prepare the best future for their children not just have factories of babies,” Villanueva said.

He also expressed strong opposition against divorce, saying that God hates divorce. But Villanueva pointed out some exceptions provided by the Bible.

“If there is infidelity on the part of one's spouse, if there is domestic violence or injustices being suffered by one's spouse, those are exception clearly given by the Bible,” Villanueva said.

Started in Bacolod City, named under Team Patay includes senatorial candidates Juan Edgardo Angara, Teddy Casiño, Allan Peter Cayetano, Jack Enrile, Francis Escudero, Risa Hontiveros, and Loren Legarda.

Partylist groups included in the Team Patay are Gabriela, Akbayan, Bayan Muna, and AnakPawis.

Listed under Team Buhay are JV Estrada, Gringo Honasan and Mitos Magsaysay together with Liberal Party's bets Koko Pimentel, Antonio Trillanes and Cynthia Villar.

Villanueva courted some political leaders in Cebu yesterday. He claimed that some governors and congressmen already assured him of their support not because of his educational background and competence but of his moral leadership.

He said that these officials from Pangasinan, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas and other areas are wholeheartedly supporting him saying that he is an independent candidate and it's not hard for them to include in the senatorial slate. —/JPM (FREEMAN)