JOURNALIST Alfonso Tomas “Atom” Araullo filed on Monday, September 11, 2023, a P2 million civil lawsuit against former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict...
JOURNALIST Alfonso Tomas “Atom” Araullo filed on Monday, September 11, 2023, a P2 million civil lawsuit against former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict spokesperson Lorraine Badoy-Pastora and her public affairs program co-host Jeffrey Celiz over their “baseless accusations” linking him and his family to the communist group.
Among the statements of Badoy and Celiz that were cited in the complaint was when they tagged Araullo as part of a “systematic orchestrated attack against the government,” that he is a member of the communist party or at least an enabler, providing protection to terrorists and for using his profession to destroy and attack others by coming up with documentaries that are faithful to the lies of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Araullo said he is hoping his actions will contribute in defending press freedom in the country and that it will encourage other journalists, experiencing harassment and being victims of disinformation, to stand up for themselves. “Higit doon, nalilimitahan din ‘yung aking kakayahan na gawin ang aking trabaho dahil dapat kong lalong pag-ingatan ang aking kaligtasan dahil mahirap na ang panahon ngayon, hindi mo alam ‘yung mga nag-iisip ng hindi maganda dahil sa kanilang nababasa na mga kasinungalingan,” he said in a press conference.
In July, Araullo’s mother, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan emeritus chairperson Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, filed a P2.15 million damage suit against Badoy and Celiz for repeatedly linking her to the communist group.