Broadcast journalist Atom Araullo on Monday, September 11, filed a P2 million damage suit against Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz for allegedly red-tagging him and his family on their TV show.
Aurollo, who seeks redress for "damages and injuries suffered due to defamatory statements maliciously disseminated," filed the complaint before the Office of the Prosecutor in Quezon City.
He was accompanied by his parents and the Movement Against Disinformation.
Movement Against Disinformation said that the legal action was sought to "hold accountable the two SMNI hosts for their wrongful acts and to highlight how red-tagging foments hate, abuse, and violence against journalists and truth-tellers."
According to Aurollo, the SMNI hosts directly labeled him as part of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) while using his position as a journalist to defame the government.
The journalist said his career had been impacted by the death threats he and his family had been receiving.
Aurollo also said he is filing the lawsuit not just for himself but to fight for the freedom of the press in the country.
SMNI is the media network owned by Pastor and United States fugitive Apollo Quiboloy.
In August, Araullo's mom, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Emeritus Chairperson Carol Pagaduan Araullo, also filed a similar complaint against Badoy and Celiz for incessant red tagging.
During the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Badoy worked as the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Assistant Secretary.
Later, she moved to the position of spokesperson for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC).
