Controversial church tarp reaches Baguio City

BAGUIO CITY — From Bacolod in Central Visayas, the controversial "Team Buhay/Team Patay" tarpaulin has now reached Benguet province in northern Luzon. Upon entering the vicinity of the Baguio Cathedral, church goers will greeted with the "Team Buhay/Team Patay" tarpaulin. In an interview with GMA News, Baguio Cathedral parish priest Emmanuel Panayo said members of the Commission on Family and Life had asked his permission to display the tarpaulin.   "I told them it's okay because the bishop has approved of it," Panayo said, adding it was displayed just this month.  GMA News tried getting the side of Baguio Diocese Bishop Carlito Cenzon but he was supposedly out of town. The office of the Commission on Family and Life is likewise closed during weekends. "Team Patay" was the tag given by the Bacolod diocese to senatorial bets and party-list groups who had voted for the passage of the Reproductive Health bill, which had long been opposed by the Catholic Church.   On the other hand, those who had opposed the measure were tagged as members of "Team Buhay." The diocese of Bacolod listed the names of candidates according to the tag and displayed the huge tarpaulin, which the Commission on Elections had wanted to take down as it may violate law-prescribed size of propaganda materials. The diocese, however, has refused to remove the tarpaulin and even managed to acquire a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court against the poll body's move. The tarp has since been copied by other Catholic churches in Cebu and other provices in the country. Earlier the Comelec said it may file election offense charges against the people behind the oversized tarpaulin. The Team Buhay/Team Patay tag has also drawn text messages raising the issue of some Bacolod priests fathering children. The "father priests" have been collectively called "Team Tatay." Meanwhile, of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidates who were supposed to attend the 6 a.m. Mass at the Baguio City Cathedral, only Rep. Mitos Magsaysay was able to make it. Magsaysay was listed under Team Buhay for voting against the RH bill, which is now a law. Senatorial candidates of both UNA and rival Liberal Party are in Baguio City for their campaign sortie. — LBG, GMA News