Badoy, Celiz sued for ‘red-tagging’

FORMER party-list congressman Teodoro “Teddy” A. Casiño filed civil charges against Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) hosts Lorraine Marie T. Badoy-Partosa and Jeffrey L. Celiz on Monday, claiming they were responsible for constantly “red-tagging” him in their TV program.

“They have been constantly spewing lies, aspersions, inciting ridicule and hate against me, my family, my fellow activists and our legitimate political beliefs and activities,” said Mr. Casiño, of Bayan Muna party-list.

In a 36-page complaint filed before the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC), he said the two used their TV program Laban Para sa Bayan (later renamed to Laban Kasama ang Bayan) to throw baseless accusations against him since its first episode on July 19, 2021.

“All of the above were lies woven by the defendants (SMNI hosts) in pursuit of their red-tagging and vilification agenda,” read part of Mr. Casiño’s complaint.

Citing an August 2022 episode, Mr. Casiño said he was accused of being an “urban operative” of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), a member and national cadre of the CPP Central Committee, and a part of the National United Front Commission. Moreover, the former lawmaker said he was accused of working in an underground movement for youth recruitment to the New People’s Army (NPA) in Aklan.

He said he was also accused of going to the United States as part of the CPP underground operations in a Nov. 7, 2022 episode.

Mr. Casiño also cited in his complaint a May 23 episode where Ms. Badoy-Partosa reportedly insinuated him of having “blood on his hands,” implying that he was responsible for killings, particularly of children recruited into the NPA.

In a transcript provided in the petition, the SMNI host allegedly said in the TV program, “Teddy Casiño is the cause for the deaths of our children… he is a top recruiter of a terrorist organization that has destroyed our country… and that has stolen our children from us.” — Jomel R. Paguian