CCTV catches 'Damaso' Celdran removing anti-RH streamer

Controversial tour guide and a known advocate of the reproductive health (RH), Carlos Celdran, may find himself in trouble with Catholic bishops again after taking down an anti-RH bill streamer of the Church. A report of the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN) on Wednesday said a closed-circuit television camera caught Celdran removing an anti-RH bill streamer in Intramuros, Manila. UCAN said the streamer, which read "Choose Life, No to RH/RP Bill," had been placed outside the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) office in Manila. The UCAN report said Celdran, in a message posted on his Facebook account, admitted “taking down an anti-RH sign." “I’ll do it again. Stop getting involved in politics and spreading lies and I’ll stop ripping down your signs. That is all I have to say. If you have a copy of the video, please post," UCAN quoted Celdran as saying. The UCAN said the CBCP secretariat is still consulting with the bishops whether or not to file charges against Celdran. Pro-Life Philippines president Eric Manalang said Celdran should be corrected “before it gets worse." “If Celdran wants to express his sentiments, he should do it in a decent way and not by destroying and stealing private property," Manalang said. Celdran's apology Just recently, on March 10 this year, Celdran apologized to the Catholic Church for disrupting an ecumenical prayer service at the Manila Cathedral last year. In September 30 last year, Celdran made headlines for disrupting a prayer service at the Manila Cathedral by posing as national hero Dr. Jose Rizal and referring to bishops opposing the RH bill as "Damaso" - a reference to a priest in Rizal's novel who fathered a child. At the time he referred to the Catholic Church’s meddling in the RH bill issue. The Church has opposed the RH bill, which seeks to promote the use of contraceptives in family planning. According to the CBCP, Celdran issued a statement on March 10 admitting that he handled the situation poorly when he staged a protest inside the Manila Cathedral in September while a prayer service was going on. The CBCP said Celdran posted a message on his Facebook account that he sent a “letter of reconciliation" to the Catholic Church through a Manila court. The Church official who filed a complaint against Celdran, Manila Cathedral rector Msgr. Nestor Cerbo, said “normally, the Church is always open to apology." Celdran is on trial for violating a law which prohibits “offending religious feelings," an offense punishable by imprisonment. Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code says "the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon anyone who, in a place devoted to religious worship or during the celebration of any religious ceremony, shall perform acts notoriously offensive to the feelings of the faithful." Celdran stood in front of Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Papal nuncio Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams and other prelates while shouting “Stop involving yourselves in politics!" The Manila police arrested Celdran and detained him for a few hours. He is out on bail after paying a P6,000 bail. – VVP, GMA News