SC urged to address Badoy’s attacks vs. human rights lawyers

A total of 485 lawyers on Friday urged the Supreme Court to address the alleged attacks of Lorraine Badoy, a former official of the National Task Force on Ending the Local Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), against human rights lawyers.

This came after the lawyers urged the High Court to take action against attacks on judicial independence.

“We also hope that the Court will address Ms. Badoy’s attacks against human rights lawyers which were part of her attacks against Judge Malagar,” National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers president Edre Olalia said in a statement.

Olalia said they are aware that the Court has tackled "statements made by a certain Lorraine Badoy containing threats against Judge Marlo A. Magdoza-Malagar of the Manila Regional Trial Court.”

“We are heartened by this and the Court’s public statement sternly warning those who incite violence which endangers the lives of judges and their families and informing the public that such constitutes contempt of court,” he said.

“We look forward to the specific action that the Honorable Court will finally take on the matter to exact accountability from Ms. Badoy and others,” he added.

Meanwhile, he said they will also discuss possible actions that will contribute to the efforts to put an end to the culture of impunity and disrespect for law in the country.

GMA News Online has sought Badoy for comment but she has yet to respond as of posting time.

Badoy, in a Facebook post, criticized Malagar for her decision to dismiss the Department of Justice's proscription case seeking to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army as terrorist groups.

She denied making threats against Magdoza-Malagar.

““I did not threaten anybody. Lalo na 'yung judge. Walang threats 'yan (Especially the judge. There were no threats.),” Badoy said in a radio interview.

“Naging head ako ng strategic communications cluster ng NTF-ELCAC at maliwanag na maliwanag sa amin na matagal nang ginagawa ito, na operation ito ng CPP-NPA na kinukuyog. Noon pa nila... Kukunin nila ang salita ng kahit sinong binibiktima nila and they will make it seem whatever they wanted it to seem. Hindi ako nagte-threaten. Hindi naman ako terorista eh, ang CPP-NPA-NDF ang terorista,” she added.

The former NTF-ELCAC official, however, said she “respects” the SC and takes “full cognizance” of their issued warning.—AOL, GMA News