BACOLOD City , Philippines — With its case on controversial tarpaulin on "Team Buhay-Team Patay" pending before the Supreme Court, the Diocese of Bacolod has started distributing campaign flyers to churchgoers urging them to vote for nine senatorial candidates whom it dubbed pro-life.
A copy of the flyers obtained by The STAR yesterday listed senatorial candidates Cynthia Villar, Koko Pimentel, JV Ejercito Estrada, Antonio Trillanes, Gringo Honasan, Mitos Magsaysay, Lito David, JC de los Reyes, and Marwil Llasos as under "Conscience Vote 2013 Senatoriables."
The Diocese of Bacolod, led by Bishop Vicente Navarra, is composed of churches in Bacolod and nearby towns and cities. The other dioceses are in the far north, Diocese of San Carlos, and in the far south, Diocese of Kabankalan.
The Diocese of Bacolod gained national attention when it posted a tarpaulin against the Reproductive Health (RH) Law in the façade of the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City last February.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) ordered Navarra to take down the tarpaulin, primarily because it is considered a campaign material and it violates the allowable size for posters.
But the Diocese took the matter to the Supreme Court, which issued a temporary restraining order on the Comelec order. (FREEMAN)