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UNAUTHORIZED USE. The Archdiocese of Cebu says the use of Archbishop Jose Palma’s photo in a campaign poster is unauthorized, and calls on the camp of dismissed Cebu mayor Michael Rama to remove the posters immediately.
sourced photo
The Cebu archdiocese says the posters could 'indirectly influence' parishioners and expose Archbishop Jose Palma to legal sanctions
CEBU, Philippines – The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu has demanded that the camp of dismissed Cebu City mayor Michael Rama take down campaign posters that prominently feature Archbishop Jose Palma, warning that the images falsely suggest Church endorsement and risk violating election laws.
“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,” the archdiocese said in an official statement posted on its Facebook page.
The archdiocese issued the statement after photos of the posters circulated on Facebook. The campaign materials show a photo of Rama with Palma and the words in capital letters, “THANK YOU, ARCH. JOSE PALMA.”
Printed at the bottom of the poster was: “MIKE RAMA MAYOR.”
Sought for comment, Rama told Rappler he would respond after the elections.
The archdiocese said it was calling for the immediate removal of the posters because they could “indirectly influence” parishioners in Cebu and expose Palma to sanctions under the Omnibus Election Code’s provision about the “coercion of subordinates.”
The statement also said the use of Palma’s photo for campaigning “is without the informed consent of the Archbishop” and violates the Data Privacy Act.
The statement was signed by Father Domingo Delos Angeles Jr., a lawyer and the archdiocese’s legal officer, and approved by Palma.
Rama, who was suspended and later dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman, is running for mayor against former ally Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, Councilor Nestor Archival Sr., former Customs commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz, and Julieto Co. – Rappler.com
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