MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled in favor of the Diocese of Bacolod who caught the ire of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for posting tarpaulins identifying the 2013 senatorial candidates as “Team Patay” or “Team Buhay” depending on their stand on the reproductive health law.
The high court’s decision came at the heels of Pope Francis’ visit in the country, wherein on his way back to Rome, the Pontiff said Catholics should not “breed like rabbits.”
In 2013, the diocese posted the tarpaulin in front of San Sebastian Church in Bacolod identifying then senatorial candidates who voted for the approval of the RH law as “Team Patay”: Juan Edgardo Angara, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Teddy Casiño and Jack Enrile.
The “Team Patay” list also included party-list groups Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Akbayan and Anak Pawis.
Those who opposed the RH law were listed under “Team Buhay”: JV Ejercito, Antonio Trillanes IV, Gregorio Honasan, Mitos Magsaysay, Koko Pimentel and Cynthia Villar.
The Comelec issued a ruling ordering the diocese to take down the tarpaulins or they will be charged with an election offense but the high court, in March 2013, issued a restraining order against the Comelec.
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