Carlos Celdran to appeal to SC

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MANILA – Following another court loss, cultural activist Carlos Celdran expressed his intentions of appealing to the Supreme Court after being convicted for starting a protest at Manila Cathedral last 2010.

Netizens expressed their support of Celdran’s act comparing it with the recent killing of 12 journalists as revenge for publishing cartoons that offend the Muslim community.

Celdran, through his personal Facebook account, said that his conviction shows that there is indeed a bigger problem in the country.

“It saddens me to hear this decision upholding my conviction for ‘offending religious feelings.’ I’m sad not only for my case in particular, but for the Philippines as well.

This conviction is just a symptom of a larger disease,” he said.

He added, “There is a bigger picture of corruption and patronage in the Philippine justice system. We need to address these issues if ever we are to move forward as a people.

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The Court of Appeals upheld Celdran’s conviction last Dec. 14, 2012 after he protested during ecumenical services at the Manila Cathedral. Celdran also held a “Damaso” placard as he expressed his opinions about the Catholic Church’s opposition to reproductive health measures.

While Celdran apologized for the incident, the Court said that he violated Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code.

Celdran said that he will try to convince the court by saying that the said law is already obsolete.