PUSHBACK | TV journalist Atom Araullo shows a copy of the P2-million damage suit he filed against Lorrraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celis, in this photo taken on Sept. 11, 2023. Behind him, at left, is his mother, activist Carol Araullo, and at right is his lawyer, Tony La Vi帽a. 鈥擫YN RILLON | Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� A Quezon City court has ordered Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz, both commentators at Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), to pay TV journalist Atom Araullo a total of P2 million in civil damages for 鈥渁busing鈥� their right to free speech when they accused him of being a supporter of the communist insurgency two years ago without any proof.
Judge Dolly Rose Bolante-Prado of QC Regional Trial Court Branch 306 granted Araullo鈥檚 demand for reparations over the 鈥済rave damage and injury鈥� he suffered from Badoy and Celiz鈥檚 defamatory statements made on the SMNI segment 鈥淟aban Kasama ang Bayan鈥� and in a video posted on Facebook.
鈥淭he exercise of free speech must be based on facts and should not cross defamation,鈥� the court said. 鈥淏y engaging in Red-tagging, the defendants deliberately sought to discredit and inflict harm on (Araullo).鈥�
Red-tagging refers to the broad allegations made by the military, police, and other security officials that brand individuals or groups as either members or supporters of the communist rebels.
The court noted that Badoy and Celiz鈥檚 remarks were 鈥渁imed at damaging (Araullo鈥檚) reputation and credibility, both as a person and as a journalist, by associating him with the (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People鈥檚 Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines, or CPP-NPA-NDFP) without proof.鈥�
Mother also maligned
Their statements merely generated hatred and threats against Araullo and his mother, activist Carol Araullo, it added.
The elder Araullo was called an 鈥渦rban infiltrator鈥� and supposedly one of the heads of the CPP-NPA-NDFP.
The court ordered Badoy and Celiz to 鈥渏ointly and severally pay鈥� Araullo a total of P2.08 million in nominal, moral and exemplary damages as well as attorney鈥檚 fees, on an interest rate of 6 percent per year until the amount is fully paid.
In granting Araullo鈥檚 claim for damages, the court said the 鈥渟tatements of the defendants disrupted the plaintiff鈥檚 family relations and disturbed his mental peace, thereby exposing him to severe stress and anxiety.鈥�
READ: Atom Araullo wins red-tagging civil suit vs Badoy, Celiz
They also caused Araullo 鈥渇right, serious anxiety, humiliation and sleepless nights.鈥�
鈥楤ad faith鈥� in itself
鈥淩ed-tagging, by itself, is a manifestation of bad faith,鈥� the court stressed, adding:
鈥�(Badoy and Celiz) acted grossly and recklessly without regard for truth. Thus, to ensure that such conduct will not be repeated by anyone, the plaintiff must be awarded exemplary damages, in addition to nominal and moral damages.鈥�
With Antonio La Vi帽a as his lawyer, Araullo filed a complaint against Badoy and Celiz in September 2023.
The complaint invoked Sections 19, 20 and 21 of the Civil Code (abuse of civil rights); Section 26 (provisions on respecting a person鈥檚 dignity, privacy, personality and peace of mind); and Section 33 (damages in defamation cases).