Lorraine Badoy not connected with OP, NTF-ELCAC, says Palace budget sponsor

Lorraine Badoy is neither connected with the Office of President nor the National Task Force to End the Local Armed Conflict, the sponsor of the proposed P9-billion budget of the OP for 2023 said on Wednesday.

Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco made the remark in the House plenary on the question of Deputy Minority Leader France Castro of ACT Teachers’ Party-list.

"This is to confirm that she is not part of the OP; she does not have a plantilla," Tiangco said as regards Badoy.

"She is not even a consultant of the OP or the NTF-ELCAC," he added.

Castro said Tiangco's answer was crucial because the Supreme Court on Tuesday those "who continue to incite violence through social media and other means which endanger the lives of judges and their families."

Sought for comment, Badoy said, "Yes this is true. I am no longer part of government having stepped down together with my appointing officer, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte."

An undersecretary in the Duterte administration, Badoy was the spokesperson of the NTF-ELCAC.

She has drawn criticisms for allegedly red-tagging of certain organizations and individuals, supposedly placing them in danger.

In a recent post on Facebook, Badoy criticized Manila RTC Judge Marlo Magdoza Malagar for her dismissal of the government’s proscription case against the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.

Critics saw a part of her statement as a threat against the magistrate.

She has since denied that she did so.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court said in a statement that inciting violence and harm against judges and their families would be considered contempt against the High Tribunal and would be “dealt with accordingly.”

With Tiangco’s answer, Castro pointed out that it was now clear that Badoy was not a government employee.

She said Badoy was always on television linking organizations to terrorists.

Badoy has accused the Makabayan bloc, of which ACT Teachers is a part of, as fronts of communist movement.

The Makabayan bloc has denied Badoy's accusations. —NB, GMA News