Ex-Bayan Muna solon files P2-M civil suit vs Badoy, Celiz

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino, now spokesman of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, physically attends the hybrid hearing of the Committee on National Defense, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation on the issue of red-tagging/red-baiting of certain celebrities, personalities, institutions, and organizations, in this file photo taken on November 24, 2020. Senate PRIB file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño on Monday filed a P2-million civil suit against former anti-insurgency task force spokesperson Lorraine Badoy and confessed ex-communist rebel Jeffrey Celiz for consistently red-tagging him.

“This legal action is long overdue. Since 2020, these two characters, aided and abetted by the NTF-Elcac (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict), have been falsely, maliciously, and repeatedly accusing me of being involved in terrorism, rebellion, and other crimes as a supposed high-ranking official of the CPP-NPA-NDFP,” Casiño said.

He is the current chair of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), a multisectoral alliance of people’s organizations for reforms.

He said: “They have been consistently spewing lies, aspersions, inciting ridicule and hate against me, my family, my fellow activists, and our legitimate political beliefs and activities.”

Casiño said since 2020, Badoy already called him a “communist terrorist” in her Manila Times column.

“Lorraine calls me a communist terrorist even if I am not involved in the armed struggle, don’t espouse the violent overthrow of the state, nor incite or recruit people to do so,” he said.

He said, the red tagging continued when “Laban Para sa Bayan,” an SMNI television program started on July 19, 2021, where even his stay at his home province was branded as a “covert act” of the CPP-NPA.

“As a leftist activist, I have been called many things by my detractors. But to be falsely and repeatedly accused of being a high-ranking official of an organization arbitrarily designated by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) as a terrorist organization, and accused of orchestrating the death of thousands and the destruction of the country, is just too much,” Casiño said.

Due to the accusations of the two, Casiño said he was exposed to persecution and risk of prosecution for crimes he did not commit.

He pointed out that the right to free speech and expression, as with other rights has reasonable boundaries.

“By crossing the line,” Casiño said Badoy and Celiz “have repeatedly committed abuses in the exercise of their right…thereby causing injury and damages” to him.

Casiño asked the Makati court to issue a cease and desist order from red tagging him and order to pay damages for the following: moral damages of P1,100,000; exemplary damages of P500,000; nominal damages of P500,000; attorney’s fees of not less than P100,000; and costs of the suit.

This is not the first time that a civil suit was filed against the two.

On July 20, broadcast journalist Atom Araullo also filed a civil suit against the two. His mother, Bayan chair emeritus Dr. Carol Araullo also filed a separate civil suit against Badoy and Celiz.

READ: Atom Araullo sues Badoy, Celiz for P2M over red tagging

Sought for comment, Celiz branded the case as “pure harassment.”

“Hindi ako natatakot na harapin ang kanyang civil and damages case…This is purely harassment and pananakot for me and Dr. Lorraine Badoy,” Celiz told reporters.

(I am not afraid to face his civil and damages case. This is purely harassment and intimidation for me and Dr. Lorraine Badoy).