Carlos Celdran exercised his freedom of expression when he walked into Manila Cathedral, held up a “DAMASO” sign, and said, “Stop meddling in politics!”

This action added a spark to the RH revolution, galvanizing even more support for a decade-long advocacy to pass the RH bill.

The same action would not have the same punishment if it were done in at a secular event. Unfortunately, our law currently favors religion through Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code, which punishes actions in religious places of worship that “offend religious feelings.”

On October 8, 2019, Carlos Celdran died in exile and a victim of Article 133. 

Congressman Edcel Lagman explained, "Carlos Celdran, the cultural activist and patriot, died a freeman.

The Supreme Court failed to resolve with finality before he died on October 8, 2019 his latest pending motion for reconsideration which sought the reversal of the High Court's initial upholding of his improvident conviction by the lower court for purported violation of Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code." 

"It is now for the Congress of the Philippines to render justice and redress to Celdran by repealing the aforequoted archaic provision which is an odious remnant of the Dark Ages.

Article 133 is anathema to freedom of speech and expression which is guaranteed under the Bill of Rights in the 1935, 1973 and the present 1987 Constitution."

We’re calling on the government to make the Carlos Celdran Bill HB 5170 a priority so that no one else will be a victim to this archaic law.

Uphold separation of church and state. Defend freedom of speech. Justice for Carlos Celdran!

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* Full text of the Carlos Celdran Bill HB 5170 is in this article: https://www.rappler.com/nation/243037-edcel-lagman-house-bill-repealing-blasphemy-crime