DESPITE being under detention, Ka Eric Celiz and Dr. Lorraine Badoy continue to fight for freedom.
The Sambayanan Group continues to call on the leadership of the House of Representatives after the detention of former Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) cadre Jeffrey ‘Ka Eric’ Celiz, and former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Spokesperson Usec. Lorraine Badoy.
Both Ka Eric and Dr. Badoy will remain in the detention facility at the House of Representatives until the Committee Report on the Legislative Franchises panel’s investigation into SMNI’s franchise is adopted.
Badoy and Celiz are the anchors of SMNI’s “Laban Kasama ang Bayan”, a program dedicated to fighting the insurgency brought by the communist terrorist group CPP-NPA-NDF.
According to Ka Winie Doblizo, Jr., the National President of Sambayanan, a broad organization of former comrades, rebels, supporters, and their families, the two should be released from the house.
Badoy and Celiz are on a hunger strike while inside the Batasan to protest against the leadership due to their ordeal.
They also pointed out that the target of the hearing in the House is not the SMNI franchise but to silence them against CPP-NPA-NDF.
“Our democratic right to free expression-the right above all rights-is being trampled on by the government, and our freedom of the press, where the government is being held accountable to the people, is being demolished right before our very eyes,” according to Dr. Lorraine Badoy.
Before being brought to the detention facility on Tuesday, Celiz referred to the House as a Kangaroo Court under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Celiz’s action stems from the pressure to disclose the source of the alleged P1.8-B travel funds of the speaker’s office.
However, Celiz refused to reveal his source even when offered an executive session.
“So the sergeant of arms is hereby directed to enforce the decision of this committee. Can make a comment Mr. Chair? Session suspended. Atty. Mark Tolentino,” according to Rep. Gus Tambunting, Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Franchises.
Ka Eric labels the House a Kangaroo Court; Franchise panel stands by contempt order
“Thank you for this Kangaroo Court, thank you for this Kangaroo Court. Thank you for this Kangaroo Court,” Jeffrey ‘Ka Eric’ Celiz, Program Host, Laban Kasama ang Bayan stated.
The Franchise Committee maintains that their action against Celiz is justified due to his refusal to reveal his information source.
However, Celiz asserts the Sotto Law (RA 11458), granting journalists the right to protect their sources.
“The rights of the citizens are being defended here. The constitution is part of the law, the highest law of our country. I will be detained for life, so be it. I will stand for my right. Otherwise, I will lose my right and the people’s rights,” Celiz added.
“He will refuse to answer any question that the honorable Suarez will ask. And he will always cite a law which is unacceptable to this committee,” added Tambunting.
The house previously stated that the travel expenses for the entire congress this year were only over P39-M, not P1.8-B.
Celiz insists that he was merely asking if the house’s travel expenses indeed reached P1.8-B.
Celiz had earlier apologized to Speaker Romualdez if his questioning caused any damage to the official’s reputation.
SMNI remains open to the house’s side on Ka Eric’s Kangaroo Court statement.
