Bayan's Casiño sues Badoy, Celiz for P2 million over red-tagging

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Chairperson Teddy Casiño on Monday sued Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz for P2 million for allegedly red-tagging him.

In a 36-page complaint, Casiño asked a Makati court to order the SMNI hosts to pay him P1.1 million in moral damages, P500,000 in exemplary damages, P500,000 in nominal damages, P100,000 in attorney’s fees, and the cost of the suit.

He also asked the Court to order Badoy and Celiz to cease and desist from maligning and red-tagging him.

“From the first episode… defendants have baselessly, willful, repeatedly, and publicly maligned and red-tagged [the] plaintiff, in complete and utter disregard of the standards of human relations provided in the Civil Code,” he said in the complaint.

“Defendants also deliberately failed and refused to act with justice, give Plaintiff his due, and dealt with him in utmost bad faith. Needless to state, these acts of the defendants caused immense injury and damage to the plaintiff,” he added.

According to Casiño, he had the right to public esteem and to maintain his good name, character, and reputation, which was violated by the defendants.

“Defendants have violated their duty to speak within the bounds of law and good faith, uttering statements that falsely, unjustly, and maliciously destroy the good name and reputation of the Plaintiff. For this reason, they must be held to account for the damages they have so severely caused on the Plaintiff,” he said.

Casiño also alleged that Badoy and Celiz made no real effort to verify facts or to present proof.

Citing UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial Killings (EJKs) Philip Alston, who reported that red-tagging was among the circumstances that led to EJKs, Casiño added in his complaint that calling him a terrorist or linking him to a terrorist organization put his and his family’s life, liberty, and security at risk,

Casiño also argued that Badoy and Celiz’s actions were contrary to morals, good customs, or public policy, which caused him injury.

“Scurrilous activities of the defendants have not only trespassed upon the rights of Plaintiff, but have created genuine fear for the latter’s life, liberty, and security resulting in damages and lost personal space and opportunities for Plaintiff,” he said.

Aside from this, their speech directly violated his rights and caused him injury.

Casiño said they subjected him to public ridicule and hate, which had taken a toll on him due to mounting anxiety, stress, and tension. Casiño said this likely contributed to his heart attack in February.

“The loss of time, money, and peace of mind is [an] irreparable injury that has caused untold damage to the psyche and well-being of Plaintiff, creating a clear and unmistakable right to enjoin the Defendants from their actions,” he said.

In a separate statement, Casiño said the complaint was long overdue.

“Kailangan nang matigil ito. Kailangan managot sina Badoy, Celiz at mga tulad nilang red tagger sa mga kasinungalingan at paninirang ginagawa nila,” he added.

(This needs to stop. And Badoy and Celiz and their fellow red-taggers need to answer for the lies and defamation they are causing.)

As to Casiño and his family’s lives being put at risk due to the red-tagging, Celiz said Casiño had to “prove that.” 

“Kung totoo ‘yun dapat namatay na siya noon po. Three years ago ko pa siya binubunyag… so those are usual tactics na walang pinagkaiba doon sa sinasabi nila na ang red-tagging ay delikado,” he said.

(If it is true, he should have died a long time ago. I said this three years ago. So those are the usual tactics that are no different to saying that red-tagging is dangerous.)

Celiz also challenged Casiño to condemn the CPP-NPA-NDF.

“Isa lang ang challenge namin sa kanya. Lahat ng ito matatapos, tatanggapin ko nagkamali ako, at luluhod ako sa harap niya, if he will be able to condemn and call for the rejection and call for the Filipino people to unite with the government para tapusin at itakwil at ikondena ang CPP-NPA-NDF,” he said.

(We challenge him to do just one thing. All this will be settled, I will accept that I made a mistake, and I will kneel before him if he will be able to condemn and call for the rejection and call for the Filipino people to unite with the government to end and reject and condemn the CPP-NPA-NDF.)

GMA News Online had also sought comment from Badoy and her representatives, but they had yet to respond as of posting time. — DVM, GMA Integrated News