GMA journalist Atom Araullo secured a significant legal victory after the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 306 ruled in his favor against SMNI hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz for red-tagging him. The court ordered the two to pay Araullo P2.080 million in damages and legal fees, citing the harm caused to his personal life and journalism career.
In a decision dated December 12 and released on December 13, Judge Dolly-Rose Bolante Prado emphasized that red-tagging is “inherently malicious” and constitutes a violation of constitutional rights. The ruling aligns with a Supreme Court definition of red-tagging, introduced earlier this year, which identifies the act as a threat to life, liberty, and security.
“This is a win not just for me, but for all victims of red-tagging. It shows that there are legal options to hold perpetrators accountable,” Araullo said in a statement.
The court noted that the accusations made by Badoy and Celiz—linking Araullo and his mother to the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing—were baseless and malicious, further violating Araullo’s right to peace of mind and dignity. These actions were described as an abuse of rights under Philippine law.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) lauded the decision, highlighting its importance in offering a civil remedy for defamation without resorting to criminal libel. “This case is a warning to red-taggers: the media community will hold you accountable,” NUJP stated.
