Vice President Sara Duterte welcomed the release of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) hosts Jeffrey ‘Ka Eric’ Celiz and Lorraine Badoy from detention in the House of Representatives.
In a statement released Wednesday, Dec. 13, Duterte commended Badoy and Celiz for their dauntless attitude to fight for press freedom and freedom of expression.
"Kahanga-hanga ang tapang at tatag na ipinamalas nina Dr. Badoy at Ka Eric para ipaglaban ang ating karapatan at itaguyod ang ating Saligang Batas. Simbolo sila ng isang bayan na naninindigan ng tama at naninindigan para sa tama," she said.
Last Dec. 5, the House Committee of Legislative Franchises moved to cite the two SMNI hosts in contempt.
Celiz was detained after he declined to cooperate in the probe into the alleged ₱1.8 billion travel expenses of House Speaker Martin Romualdez in 2023, while Badoy allegedly gave conflicting answers about the advertising revenues of SMNI programs.
After one week, on Dec. 12, the House panel lifted the detention order against the two SMNI hosts due to humanitarian reasons.
The Vice President recounted how Badoy and Celiz fought against terrorism and insurgency when they were officials of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict during his father's administration.
Duterte then thanked the media, social media practitioners, professionals, IP leaders, and other sectors who she said became instruments in the release of the SMNI hosts.
"May kapangyarihan ang bayang nagkakaisa para sa pagsulong ng ating karapatan, para sa katarungan, katotohanan, at sa pagtataga ng mapaya at matibay na bayan," she furthered.
