Robredo’s Angat Buhay eyeing legal action vs Badoy over ‘red tagging’

Former Vice-President now private citizen Atty. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo delivers her message during the formal launch of the Angat Buhay Non-Government Organization, legally registered as Angat Pinas Inc., at the Volunteer Center in Katipunan Ave., Quezon City. Robredo said its advocacy areas are on nutrition and food security, addressing stunting in young children; continuing their community learning hubs (currently 129) but converting these into reading centers focusing on reading and math (skills), training volunteer tutors for remedial programs; disaster relief response and support for rehabilitation and community engagement. (INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON)

MANILA, Philippines — The Angat Buhay Foundation founded by former vice president Leni Robredo is mulling legal actions against former anti-communist task force spokesperson Lorraine Badoy after she recently linked the organization to communist rebels.

In a statement on Friday, Angat Pinas Inc. Executive Director Raphael Magno said that they condemn Badoy’s claims that the people behind the said foundation are members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Badoy, who appeared in an SMNI network program last Monday, claimed that communists are “really working overtime with their recruitment” before mentioning the foundation — implying that Angat Buhay is responsible for young people who have transitioned into rebel fighters.

“We strongly condemn and unequivocally deny the allegations made by Lorraine Badoy against Angat Buhay last 04 July 2022 in a cable television program. Her claims are utterly baseless and completely false, and worse, encourage the harassment of our staff members, volunteers, and partners,” Magno said.

“As soon as our attention was called to the matter, we referred the same to our lawyers who are now in the process of preparing possible legal actions to protect the integrity of our organization and our work and, more so, to protect our volunteers and partners,” he added.

Magno also assured supporters of Robredo’s foundation that they would not take the fake claims sitting down.

 “To our friends and supporters, rest assured that we are not taking this sitting down. We will not allow these efforts to sabotage our work to prosper. The time to stand up to fake news and hold its purveyors to account is now. As with our chairperson, former vice president Leni Robredo, our word is our bond. Thank you for standing with us,” he said.

“We will continue our work as a private, non-government organization to empower marginalized communities and sectors. Our work is beyond personalities and politics. Our work is about fundamental values. Our work is about leaving no one behind,” he added.

In a post on her Facebook account, Badoy answered Magno’s warning of legal action, saying that her lawyers await the Angat Buhay’s moves.

“So they deny it is the CPP NPA NDF behind them and yet they use the propaganda lines of this communist terrorist group and use words (‘red-tagging’) the CPP NPA NDF uses to silence those of us who take off their masks so they can recruit our children to be NPAs,” Badoy said.

“We have the Anti Terrorism Law. I suggest their lawyers study that particular part about recruitment and terrorist financing.  BRING IT ON. My lawyers await you,” she added.

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