Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 19) – An activist filed a complaint against hosts of a broadcast network over repeated incidents of red-tagging
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Chairperson Carol Pagaduan-Araullo on Wednesday filed a civil complaint against two Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) hosts.
“I am filing today a civil damages lawsuit against Lorraine Badoy-Partosa and Jeffrey Celiz, two notorious redtaggers/terrorist labelers because they have incessantly and wantonly engaged in a vilification spree to demonize me and tar my good name and that of my organization, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan,” she said in a statement.
Araullo filed the complaint before the Office of the Prosecutor in Quezon City.
The social activist added that the continued red-tagging by the SMNI hosts also affected her son, journalist Alfonso Tomas “Atom” Araullo.
She said she hoped that filing the complaint may urge others in the same situation to come forward.
“My purpose is to exact accountability for their false, baseless and malicious public statements against me so that they will stop this pernicious practice not only against me and other social activists but for many more who they have categorized as “enemies of the state” because of their critical or oppositionist stance,” she added.
Human Rights Watch previously denounced Badoy and Celiz’ statement claiming that members of the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines are part of communist organizations.
READ: Human rights group slams SMNI’s red-tagging of journalists
Last year, Badoy was also criticized for threatening and accusing Magdoza-Malagar of being a “friend and ally” who “passionately lawyered” for the communist party and its armed wing.
READ: SC tackles ‘possible actions’ on Badoy’s threats vs. Manila court judge
SMNI is led by self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” Apollo Quiboloy who has been on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most wanted list since February 2022 for sex trafficking, fraud, coercion, and bulk cash smuggling charges.
Earlier this month, YouTube terminated the channel of Quiboloy’s religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ for violating its terms of service.
CNN Philippines has reached out to SMNI for comment.
