The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the recent decision of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 306, which ruled in favor of journalist Atom Araullo in his civil suit against SMNI hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz, who accused him of being associated with communist terrorist ideologies in their talk show.

In the decision released by QC RTC Branch 306, Badoy and Celiz were ordered to pay Araullo P2.08 million in damages and legal fees as compensation for “the red-tagging and its effects on his personal life and on his career as a journalist.”

This court decision underscores the importance of the Supreme Court ruling in Deduro v. Vinoya, as it begins to set a strong legal precedent for cases involving red-tagging. It is the first judicial application of the Supreme Court’s declaration that acts of red-tagging “threaten one’s life, liberty, or security.”[1]

The Commission is hopeful that this landmark victory, beyond setting a stronger legal precedent for related cases, will further empower victims of red-tagging to seek redress and utilize available legal mechanisms against arbitrary actions that threaten their safety and well-being.

We take this opportunity to remind everyone—both public officials and private individuals—that we all have the responsibility to ensure our actions do not infringe upon the rights and liberties of others. Living in a democratic country entails not just enjoying freedoms but also carrying the duty to respect and protect the rights of others.

Acts of red-tagging undermine the credibility and professionalism of journalists, negatively affecting press freedom and every citizen’s right to information. By arbitrarily associating them with communists or terrorists, the truth is placed at risk of being downplayed. This has a detrimental effect on ensuring every Filipino can freely access evidence-based information.

The CHR, as the country’s independent national human rights institution, strongly denounces all acts of red-tagging, as these pose grave risks to the democratic pillars of our country. We have been relentless in our stance against red-tagging and taking a more active stance towards protecting every Filipino media worker. As the Fourth Estate, media workers play a vital role in raising awareness of human rights issues, offering feedback and criticism on government actions and policies, and amplifying the voices of the marginalized and oppressed. ###

[1] Statement of the Commission on Human Rights lauding the Supreme Court decision on red-tagging as a threat to the right to life, liberty, and security | 11 May 2024 https://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-the-commission-on-human-rights-lauding-the-supreme-court-decision-on-red-tagging-as-a-threat-to-the-right-to-life-liberty-and-security/