Celdran mum over guilty verdict but will appeal to SC

MANILA, Philippines – Reproductive Health Bill advocate Carlos Celdran wants to keep silent and be with his family first after a local court found him “guilty” of “offending religious feeling” under Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code, according to a report on Radyo Inquirer 990AM Tuesday.

The report quoted Celdran as saying that he was going to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, warning that this served as a threat to the freedom of speech for all Filipinos.

Celdran gained notoriety when on Sept. 30, 2010, he staged a protest, at the Manila Cathedral where, dressed as the Filipino national hero Jose Rizal, he shouted that the church should stop meddling in government affairs while holding a “Damaso” sign referring to “Padre Damaso,” the antagonist priest in Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere.

The Metropolitan Trial Court on Monday released its ruling that found Celdran guilty. Based on the decision by MeTC Branch 4 Judge Juan Bermejo Jr., Celdran was meted an indeterminate sentence of 2 months and 21 days of imprisonment to a maximum of one year, 1 month and 11 days of imprisonment. John Daryl Dimalanta