Rights group complains: ‘Why the double standards, undue silencing of social media?’
Metro Manila District Jail Annex 4 (MMDJ-4) authorities asked the group Kapatid to take down photos of Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David’s celebration of the Holy Mass at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig last Thursday, a move that left the political detainee support organization wondering.
In a statement, Kapatid spokesperson Fidel Lim said she was surprised to receive an email from MMDJ-4 questioning the publication of “images” it sent to the group of the Holy Mass officiated by the Cardinal on December 26 at the jail.
MMDJ-4 reportedly “requested” her to “take down the aforementioned postings immediately.”
The jail authorities told Lim the photos were purportedly were only for the Cardinal’s use and should “not (be) shared on any social media platforms.”
Lim said Kapatid complied with the “request” last Saturday morning and have replaced the photos with blank spaces on its Facebook page.
Kapaid however has written back, “respectfully requesting a clear, legal explanation from the MMDJ-4.”
“What is specifically wrong with sharing these photos of the Mass when the MMDJ-4’s own Facebook page has posted ‘numerous’ photos of Masses held inside the jail (in the past)?” Lim asked.
She also pointed out that MMDJ-4 has published “numerous” photos of inmates attending the Masses, with their faces blurred or partially covered.
“Other jails with Facebook pages also publish similar photos of Masses held inside their facility,” she added.
In its statement, Kapatid also pointed out that the Diocese of Caloocan under Cardinal David has made holding Masses in jails an integral part of church ministry, and regularly posts photos of these on its Facebook page.
So does the Diocese of Pasig which sponsors Masses at the MMDJ-4 since it covers the City of Taguig where the Camp Bagong Diwa jails are located, Lim said.
“In fact, when we last looked, the MMDJ-4 Facebook page has shared 32 photos of the January 16, 2024 Mass concelebrated by then Bishop Ambo David, also the CBCP President, inside the jail, which was upon the invitation of Kapatid,” she added.
Lim further said that last March 27, Holy Wednesday, MMDJ-4 also shared 22 photos of the Mass officiated by Bishop Mylo Vergara of the Diocese of Pasig, who is also the CBCP Vice President, highlighted by the ritual of washing of the feet, which included political prisoners.
“The MMDJ-4 social media page has also been posting many more photos of other Masses, all obviously intended for public dissemination,” she said.
Kapatid said it requested photos of the December 26 Mass from the MMDJ-4 given the jail’s established practice of sharing such content on social media.
“We thus find it extremely disturbing why we are now being made to ‘take down’ simple photos of a Mass led by the tenth Cardinal of the Philippines,” Lim complained.
Lim asked what makes the December 26 Mass by the Cardinal—beloved by victims of the drug war and the political prisoners—any different from other Masses that its images should be banned from being posted.
“Is there something wrong with visiting political prisoners, saying Mass for them, and calling for their release as the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 begins? Is there something wrong with following in the footsteps of Pope Francis in bringing the Church closer to the marginalized and the oppressed, the defenseless and voiceless?” she asked.
Kapatid said it hopes that the MMDJ-4 will seriously reconsider its take-down order and share its photos of the December 26 Mass on its own Facebook page.
“This would help mitigate questions about double standard and undue silencing of social media,” it said.
The group said the sharing these photos would demonstrate how the jail as a rehabilitative, reformative institution respects the right to religious freedom and promotes transparency by making such activities publicly visible.
“This would align with the broader principles of human rights and public accountability that must guide the actions of all government institutions,” it said.
“This is not just a matter of photos. It’s about consistency, transparency, accountability, the protection of rights, and the pursuit of truth,” the group added.
MMDJ-4 has not replied to Kapatid’s revelations as of this posting.
The jail facility is holding 21 of the country’s 757 political prisoners, including National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultants, namely Lim’s husband Vicente Ladlad, Adelberto Silva and Renante Gamara. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
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DISCLOSURE: Kodao was the first media outfit to publish photos of Cardinal David’s visit to MMDJ-4 it received from Kapatid’s press statement last December 26.
