Nanalo si GMA news anchor Atom Araullo sa isinampa niyang kaso ng red-tagging laban sa SMNI hosts na sina Lorraine Badoy at Jeffrey Celiz.
Sa 27 pahinang desisyon ng Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 306, inabuso raw nina Badoy at Celiz ang kanilang karapatan sa “free speech” dahil sa pag-redtag kay Araullo at sa pamilya nito na miyembro umano ng CPP-NPA-NDF.
Inatasan ng korte sina Badoy at Celiz na bayaran si Araullo ng ₱2.080 milyong para sa pinsala at bayad sa abogado.
“Although the cited case involves the propriety of issuance of a writ of amparo based on allegations of red-tagging, the High Court clearly recognized red-tagging as a harmful practice of harassment as it labels individuals or groups as associated or connected with communism or terrorism without proof or basis,” nakasaad sa desisyon ng korte.
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“By engaging in red-tagging, the defendants deliberately sought to discredit and inflict harm on the plaintiff. Their remarks were aimed at damaging the plaintiff's reputation and credibility, both as a person and as a journalist by associating him with the CPP-NPA-NDF without proof.
These labels and remarks went beyond mere editorial opinion or fair commentary and, worse, incited backlash, threats and public hatred toward the plaintiff,” dagdag pa.
Sa isa namang pahayag, inihayag ni Araullo ang kaniyang pagkatuwa sa naging desisyon ng RTC at iginiit na hindi dapat atakihin ang isang tao dahil sa paggampan niya ng kaniyang trabaho.
"I am elated by the court's ruling. Above all, this case opens up a legal option for anyone who has been a victim of red-tagging and harmful disinformation, particularly journalists," ani Araullo. “It's not okay to be attacked or harassed simply for simply doing our jobs.”
Samantala, sa isang pahayag ay muling iginiit ni Badoy na miyembro umano ng CPP-NPA-NDF ang ina ni Araullo na si Carol Araullo, at hindi lamang umano sila nabigyan ng pagkakataong maglahad ng ebidensya sa korte.
“I received the decision of the court awarding Atom Araullo as reparation for wounding his feelings and causing him sleepless nights when I correctly identified his mother, Carol Araullo, as a member of fhe CPP-NPA-NDF,” giit ni Badoy.
“I am unperturbed by this temporary setback as we had expected this from the very start when we were prevented from presenting our evidence in court because my earlier lawyer Atty Mark Tolentino failed to give my pre trial brief on time.
“In other words, we didn’t lose this case because Carol Araullo is not a member of the CPP NPA NDF. Carol Araullo, in fact, is a high ranking party member and urban operative of the CPP NPA NDF whose main goal is the destruction of our government and then our country so that the communist terrorist organization she is part of can take over. I lost this case on a mere technicality in other words,” saad pa niya.
Tinawag naman ni Celiz ang naging desisyon ng korte bilang “miscarriage of justice.”
“This is highly expected to be the result of this apparent miscarriage of JUSTICE, although this particular decision is far from reaching finality as we are still entitled to avail of the appeal processes, up to the Supreme Court, yet the propaganda operations of the CPP-NPA-NDF are also expected to go full steam ahead due to this “temporary setback” that happened on this particular case,” ani Celiz.
Matatandaang noong buwan ng Setyembre nang magsampa ng kasong sibil sa Araullo laban kina Badoy at Celiz dahil sa "red-tagging" sa kaniya at sa kaniyang pamilya, sa kanilang programa sa SMNI.
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