07/05/2025
GIPATANGTANG ni Archbishop Jose Palma ang campaign posters ni dismissed Mayor Mike Rama nga naglakip sa hulagway sa Archbishop, tungod kay kini gipang-post ni dismissed mayor nga wala'y pagtugot gikan sa Archbishop.
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DISCLAIMER | Now circulating on social media are photos of posters depicting a Cebu City mayoralty candidate standing side by side with His Excellency Jose S. Palma, Archbishop of Cebu, captioned: "THANK YOU, ARCH. JOSE PALMA." The name of the mayoralty candidate appears at the bottom of the posters in bold letters along with the position he aspires for.
We wish to inform the public that the Cebu Archbishop is not endorsing any political candidate, whether at the local or national level. Neither has the Archbishop allowed any of his priests to use the pulpit to promote or defend any political party or candidate.
We respectfully ask for the immediate removal of those posters for the following reasons:
1. These posters will indirectly influence parishioners across the Archdiocese of Cebu who can exercise their right of suffrage in Cebu City to vote for this particular candidate. This exposes the Cebu Archbishop to sanctions under the Omnibus Election Code, which provides:
Section 261 Prohibited Acts -
(d) Coercion of Subordinates.
(1) Any public officer, or any officer of any public or private corporation or association, or any head, superior, or administrator of any religious organization (emphasis ours), or any employer or land-owner who coerces or intimidates or compels, or in any manner influence, directly or indirectly, any of his subordinates or members or parishioners or employees or house helpers, tenants, overseers, farm helpers, tillers, or lease holders to aid, campaign or vote for or against any candidate or any aspirant for the nomination or selection of candidates.
2. The use of the photo for election campaign purposes is without the informed consent of the Archbishop. This violates the rights of the Archbishop under R.A. 10173, known as the Data Privacy Act, which requires informed consent in the processing of personal data.
Meanwhile, the Cebu Archbishop offers prayers for a peaceful and honest midterm election this coming May 12, 2025.
(Sgd.) ATTY. REV. FR. DOMINGO P. DELOS ANGELES, JR.
Legal Officer, Archdiocese of Cebu
Approved:
(Sgd.) MOST REV. JOSE S. PALMA
Archbishop of Cebu