Badoy invokes press freedom in media posts

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) was asked yesterday to recall the show-cause order it issued against Lorraine Marie Badoy, the former spokesperson for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Harry Roque, lawyer for Badoy, filed a 47-page petition before the SC, arguing that the show-cause order must be scrapped since his client’s remarks constituted a fair comment on an “erroneous decision” by a lower court judge.

Last month, the SC ordered Badoy to explain why she should not be cited for indirect contempt over her statements against Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar, who dismissed the government’s petition to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army(NPA), a terrorist group.

The high tribunal specifically asked Badoy to explain if she posted statements attacking the resolution, if her social media posts “encouraged violent language against the judge” and if her post “was a clear incitement to produce violent actions.”

In her reply, Badoy asked the SC to “tilt anew the balance in favor of freedom of expression and of the press” as she emphasized that there was “no threat or incitement to violence”about her Facebook posts.

“Definitely not a threat. ‘Yung sinabi ko it was an if-then statement. That’s hypothetical syllogism. I have no track record of threatening anyone,” Badoy said.

“Ang may track record niyan ay ang CPP-NPA,” she added.