More ‘Team Patay’ posters hang in Bacolod churches

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – At least 30 churches belonging to the Diocese of Bacolod have posted more “Team Patay” tarpaulins, this time smaller in size and bearing no names of lawmakers who voted in favor of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law.

A tarpaulin, with the message “Diocese of Bacolod Pro-life Forever, Team Patay Never,” was placed in front of the Sacred Heart Church and Seminary and other parishes in the city.

Msgr. Louie Galbines, vicar general of the Bacolod diocese, said the same poster will be displayed in more than 60 churches in the city this week to pursue their advocacy against the RH law.

The diocese displayed a “Team Buhay-Team Patay” tarpaulin in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral during the campaign sortie of senatorial candidates under Team PNoy last Feb. 21.

The tarpaulin listed the lawmakers who voted in favor of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 as “Team Patay,” and those who voted against the law as “Team Buhay.”

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes has sought to remove the billboard, which he described as “election propaganda.”

Brillantes said the Bacolod diocese should take down the poster since it is an oversized campaign material.

But the diocese refused, prompting the Comelec Law Department headed by director Esmeralda Ladra to issue an order to remove the tarpaulin.

The controversial tarpaulin reportedly measures six feet by 10 feet. Under Comelec Resolution 9615, campaign posters should not exceed two by three feet.

The Diocese of Bacolod sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the Comelec from implementing its order to remove its controversial tarpaulin.