Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) — Broadcast journalist Atom Araullo on Monday filed a complaint for civil damages against SMNI hosts former communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy-Partosa and Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz over red-tagging allegations.
Araullo was represented by his counsels from the Movement Against Disinformation led by Tony La Viña. He was also accompanied by his mother BAYAN Chairperson Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, who also filed a civil complaint against Badoy and Celiz in July, at the Office of the Prosecutor in Quezon City.
The Movement Against Disinformation said that throughout early 2022 to January 2023, Araullo was victimized by the “red tagging spree” of Badoy and Celiz, who tagged him as a journalist who produce content allegedly aligned with the propaganda of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front or CPP-NPA-NDF.
It added the red tagging led to severe harm to Araullo’s reputation, peace of mind, and personal relations.
The journalist said he decided to file the P2.07-million damage suit against the hosts of SMNI show “Laban Kasama Ang Bayan” to protect his family and by extension, uphold press freedom.
“It is my considered belief that the nature of their remarks goes far beyond the boundaries of fair criticism, and are designed to discredit, intimidate, and foment public animosity towards both me and my family. It also seems to be part of a broader pattern to harass and undermine members of the media whose reporting does not fit their agenda,” he said.
He added he will not file a criminal complaint against Badoy and Celiz.
“I am against the criminalization of libel and would prefer not to invoke it because it also endangers legitimate journalism. Still, malicious perpetrators of disinformation must be stopped and held accountable” he explained.
Araullo has been red-tagged by Badoy and Celiz in the network owned by church leader Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for several charges including sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling.
In October 2022, Badoy and Celiz claimed that Araullo, along with other journalists, are “operatives” of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines stood by Araullo and other media practitioners seeking redress for damages and injury they have suffered due to defamatory statements “maliciously disseminated by these vicious red-taggers.”
Meanwhile, Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Monday said the criminal complaints for red-tagging against Badoy and other former government anti-insurgency task force officials have been dismissed due to lack of a law criminalizing the act.
