Supreme Court stops Comelec

BACOLOD CITY – The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) order to remove the “Team Patay/Team Buhay” poster at the San Sebastian Cathedral.

Lawyer Theodore Te, SC public information office head, announced the ruling and said the High Tribunal also directed the Comelec to submit a comment within 10 days.

The oral arguments on the case is scheduled on March 19.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra said the SC order is a miracle for the Catholic faithful.

“I believe it’s a miracle. The Church of Bacolod glorifies the Lord for this special grace received,” Navarra said after a Holy Mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral to welcome the arrival of the relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in the city yesterday afternoon.

“All the while we were trying to fight it out I was believing that the Lord God will really hear our prayer,” he added.

The bishop’s secretary, Fr. Segundo Chua, announced the news of the High Tribunal’s ruling before the congregation of about 3,000. His declaration “we have a miracle” was met by a thunderous applause.

“We are so happy. We attribute it to the coming of the relics of St. Therese. She is with us in our pro-life advocacy in Bacolod,” Chua said.

Moreover, Navarra said the Diocesan priests and the faithful are not fighting their personal fight, but that of the Catholic faith.

“Despite the contradictions and persecutions, we stand for our faith. We have to cultivate a right conscience that starts with the truth and distinguishes what is good from evil,” the prelate said.

Navarra added that he has nothing personal against the Comelec officials who ordered to take down the oversized tarpaulin.

“I have nothing personal against them. I pray for them. I pray for their enlightenment,” he said.

Ralph Sarmiento, the bishop’s lawyer, said he has already received a copy of the TRO.

“The Supreme Court is restraining the Comelec from enforcing its orders directing the Bishop of Bacolod to remove the tarpaulins. It will be in effect until further orders from the Supreme Court,” he said.

Sarmiento added that while the TRO is just a temporary relief, the bishop considers it “a big victory in the fight of the Diocese to stand by the Constitutional rights to freedom of expression and to protect the principle of separation of the Church and the state.”*