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SC issues show-cause order on Badoy over post vs. Manila judge


The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday ordered former anti-insurgency task force spokesperson Lorraine Badoy to explain why she should not be cited for contempt over a social media post critical of a Manila regional trial court judge.

In an en banc resolution, the High Court told Badoy to show cause within a non-extendible period of 30 days from the time the resolution was served.

Badoy on Facebook earlier criticized Judge Marlo A. Magdoza-Malagar of the Manila Regional Trial Court, Branch 19 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.

The Philippine National Police, through the sponsor of the Department of Interior and Local Government's proposed 2023 budget in the House of Representatives, said that it was going to investigate Badoy and her post.

Kabataan party-list Representative Raoul Manuel during the budget deliberations quoted Badoy's post, thus, "If I kill this judge and I do so out of my political belief, then please be lenient with me." 

The High Court said Badoy must respond to the following issues:

  • Whether or not she posted or caused the posting of the statements attacking the September 21, 2022 resolution rendered by the Regional Trial Court in Civil Case No. R MNL-18-00925-CV in any or all of her social media accounts;
  • Whether or not her social media post encouraged more violent language against the judge concerned in any or all of her social media platforms;
  • Whether or not her post, in the context of social media and in the experience of similar incendiary comments here or abroad, was a clear incitement to produce violent actions against a judge and is likely to produce such act; and
  • Whether or not her statements on her social media accounts, implying violence on a judge, is part of her protected constitutional speech.

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

The SC after Badoy made the post warned that provoking violence against judges and their families through the social media and other means would be considered "contempt" of the High Tribunal.

Badoy has 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.

Badoy is a former spokesperson for the National Task Force on Ending the Local Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

The former NTF-ELCAC official has said she respected the SC and took “full cognizance” of its warning. —NB, GMA News

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