Two lawyers of Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra will be arguing the Team Patay/Team Buhay case of the Diocese of Bacolod before the Supreme Court, 2 p.m. on March 19.

Lawyer Ralph Sarmiento said he will be arguing on the first three issues as defined in the SC advisory dealing with questions of jurisdiction of the SC and freedom of expression; and lawyer Raymundo Pandan Jr. will argue the fourth and fifth issues related to the principle of separation of church and state.

Diocese of Bacolod longtime lawyer Mitchelle Abella will also be at the hearing representing the bishop.

The Diocese has asked the SC to stop the Commission on Elections from removing the 6 by 10 feet tarpaulin in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City that names senatorial candidates and partylist groups as belonging to “Team Patay” and “Team Buhay” for voting for or against the Reproductive Health Bill.

The COMELEC has said the tarpaulin must be removed because it is an oversized campaign material, but Navarra has refused to take it down, saying they have a right to freely express their opposition to the RH Law, that is anti-God.

The SC last week granted the Diocese of Bacolod a temporary restraining order and, on Tuesday, will hear arguments from both sides on whether or not the Feb. 22, 2013 notice/order of Bacolod Election Officer Mavil Majarucon-Sia, and the Feb. 27, 2013 order of the COMELEC Law Department are considered judgments, final orders, or resolutions of the COMELEC that would warrant a review of the High Court.

The COMELEC will be represented by the Solicitor General’s Office at the hearing.

Majarucon-Sia said she has also been instructed by the COMELEC head office to attend the SC hearing.*CPG

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