Team Patay vs Team Buhay? The RH fight goes on

Early morning Saturday, I flew to Cagayan de Oro as I was one of the resource speakers for the two-day Family and Life Apostolate Mindanao Assembly with the theme, “Pamilya: Saksi sa Kristohanong Pagtoo” which was held at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Iligan City. The other speakers were Dr. Ligaya Acosta who spoke about the Family’s Role in the Church and in Society, Atty. Ronaldo Reyes who spoke on the content of the RH Law, then Ricardo Licas spoke on the Pastoral Challenges of the RH Law.

After lunch, Dr. Rene Bullecer spoke of the Pandora’s box which was opened with the signing into law of the RH bill, which is why divorce is already on our debating table. Soon, same-sex marriage. Atty. Jeremy Gatdula spoke on the Doctrinal Note on the Participation of Catholics in politics and Atty. Earl Anthony Gamba spoke on the petition to declare the RH Law unconstitutional and my talk was about “Weep for me Pilipinas!”

What really surprised me was that the Mindanao Assembly was actually an annual Pro-Life event, and it was jam-packed with people from all over Mindanao, especially on the parish level. Above all, they were highly-organized. I also met Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, DD of Butuan. Remember him? He was one of the major targets by Margarita Juico of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to be discredited for getting an SUV from the Sweeps Office. But I congratulated him for God’s wrath has struck the PCSO Board when the Commission on Audit (COA) ordered the return of their unauthorized P10.5 million in salaries and allowances.

The talk of the day was that huge tarpaulin poster with the words emblazoned in bold letters, “Team Patay” and TEAM BUHAY” hanging at the San Sebastian Cathedral that was featured in national dailies which identifies Senatorial candidates that the Catholic faithful should support and reject, according to the Bacolod Diocese.

Team Patay was tagged at Jack Enrile, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda, Juan Edgardo Angara, Teddy Casiño and Risa Hontiveros. These were the people who were in the front lines supporting the passage of the RH bill. It included party-list groups allied with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anak Pawis and Akbayan, the favorite of President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino, III.

Team Buhay was tagged at the people who were Pro-Life, who fought against the RH bill and did not succumb to pressure from Malacañang. They are Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Cynthia Villar, Sen. Koko Pimentel, Sen. Antonio Trillanes and JV Ejercito. A question arose on the floor whether we should be voting for these Pro-Life, but they just might support the up and coming divorce bill. This question pointed to Sen. Pimentel, who hails from Mindanao. Campaigning against those who supported the RH bill will prove that there’s a Catholic vote.

As of presstime, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the Diocese of Bacolod to remove the tarpaulin, not because it was offensive, but rather, the Bacolod Election Officer Mavil Majarucon-Sia said that the tarpaulin was 6 feet by 10 feet and therefore it violated the limits set by the Comelec on the size of campaign posters. Am sure that the Bacolod Diocese will comply with the Comelec and reduce the size. But what about LP senatorial bet Risa Hontiveros, didn’t she also violated the rules on the size and postings of campaign materials in Dumaguete City?

For whatever it’s worth, the tarpaulin Team Patay vs Team Buhay has now gone viral because of reports from national newspapers and on social media. People in Iligan City will simply ask you… are you Team Patay or Team Buhay? No one wants to side with Patay!

Basically, the Mindanao Assembly was also focused on the same issue, by identifying those who voted for the RH bill and making sure that they and their friends won’t vote for these people. Apparently, this is one way by the Catholic Lay people to prove that there is  indeed a Catholic vote and it would be felt in the coming May 2013 polls and Mindanao’s role is crucial.

As for me, I jolted them to the realization that elections could be over because of a questionable use of the PCOS machines by the Comelec. That was quite shocking to the crowd. I also talked about the dangers in Mindanao, especially the recent raid by the NPAs of Del Monte and the failure of military intelligence, which mean that they cannot be assured of military protection anymore. They told me that killings have become frequent in CDO after the gun ban was instituted.

Then I gave them my thoughts about the Sabah question and they thanked me for sharing these with them because it was so long ago, no one knew the entire Sabah issue until I discussed it with them. Few columnists would dare venture out of their comfort zones to be in touch with the people especially in the South… where you can get the bigger picture of our country.

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