Philippines broadcast journalist and news anchor Alfonso Tomas “Atom” Araullo today slapped a P2 million damage suit against Lorraine Marie T. Badoy Partosa and Jeffrey “Ka Eric” L. Celiz, for alleged red baiting.

Badoy Partosa was former spokesperson of Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) and communications undersecretary under the Duterte administration, while Celiz claims to be a former armed rebel. Both are hosts of Laban Kasama ng Bayan Show of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

SMNI is owned by preacher Apollo Quiboloy who was indicted and is now wanted in US for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.

Red tagging or red-baiting is the phenomenon of implicating progressive civil group leaders to heinous crimes as per SC Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in his dissenting opinion on Zarate vs Aquino III.

Atom was represented by counsels from the Movement Against Disinformation, namely, Atty. Rico V. Domingo and Dean Tony La Vi?a as lead counsels and Atty. Artemio Calumpong, Atty. Cris Yambot and Atty. Ayn Ruth Tolentino-Azarcon as co-counsels.

MAD said Badoy Partosa and Celiz were charged in court to demand accountability for their “wrongful acts and to highlight how red-tagging foments hate, abuse and violence against journalists and truth tellers.”

On the program “Laban Kasama ang Bayan”, Badoy Partosa lambasted Araullo and his mother Carol, who is chairperson emeritus of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, while conversing with Mary Therese Frances Meriveles who is a member of the Hands Off Our Children Movement.”

“Itong si Carol Araullo, anak mo na-recruit dahil sa Bayan, chair emeritus siya. Pero yung anak niya, si Atom Araullo, napakagwapo, napaka-komportable ng buhay. Bakit hindi mo ipa-NPA (New People’s Army) yan Carol?”

Atom was also red tagged for his documentary on Lumad school.

Earlier in July this year, Carol Araullo filed a civil suit against Badoy Partosa and Celiz worth over P2 million also for red-tagging.

The Movement Against Disinformation stressed that the case is “in support of a broader push back against red-taggin and the spread of disinformation that suppress democratic discourse and rule of law.”

In a statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said it stands with Araullo and other journalists who “seek redress for damages and injury they have suffered due to the defamatory statements maliciously disseminated by these vicious red-taggers.”

NUJP slams red-tagging which is a form of vilification because it “poses serious risks to safety and security of those unjustly labeled as ‘communist-terrorists’, ‘communist propagandists’ and the like.”

The Union said this “dangerous narrative is used to justify arrests, trumped-up charges, surveillance and other forms of harassment against human rights defenders, including journalists.”

This happened to red-tagged journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio who, according to NUJP, remains in jail on fabricated charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and financing terrorism.

The journalists’ association deplores the fact that “targets of red-tagging also experience mental and emotional stress over being falsely accused and over worrying about their safety and security.”

NUJP has recorded 19 incidents of red-tagging including some of their officers.

Up until June 2022, Badoy is facing 12 administrative and criminal charges for her relentless red- baiting.

If you are media practitioner who is red tagged, alert the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Media Safety headquarters at Cp no.09602784263 and email address safety@nujp.org.

If you want to file a case for investigation, you may lodge a complaint at the following agencies:

PNP: Please report to your nearest police station or office in your area or dial ‘117’ in case of emergency.

NBI: NBI Building, Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila

Trunkline: (02) 8523-8231 to 38

Fax: (02) 8526-1216 | 8523-7414

Email: director@nbi.gov.ph

Commission on Human Rights (CHR)

SAAC Bldg., UP Complex, Commonwealth Ave. Diliman, QC.

Hotlines: 0936-068-0982 (TM) | 0920-506-1194 (Smart)

Email: chad.pasco.chr.gmail.com

CHR ‘Tanggol Karapatan Online’ (E-lawyering service):

CHR Investigation Office: 0915-077-0097 (Globe) | 0950-369-9026 (TnT)

CHR Legal Division: elawyering.ld.chrp@gmail.com.

Photo: Tony La Viña FB