By Alec Go
The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a show-cause order against former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson Lorraine Badoy over her statement against Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar.
Based on the Oct. 4 SC press briefer, Badoy has 30 days to explain why she should not be cited in contempt regarding her statement on Malagar, the judge who dismissed the petition to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorists.
The Supreme Court orders Lorraine Marie T. Badoy to show cause why she should not be cited in contempt of court. pic.twitter.com/P1oRsyqbpc
— Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office (@SCPh_PIO) October 4, 2022
The SC said Badoy must respond under oath on the following issues:
- Whether or not she posted or caused the posting of the statements attacking the September 21, 2022 Resolution rendered by the Regional Trial Court in Civil Case No. R[1]MNL-18-00925-CV in any or all of her social media accounts;
- Whether or not her social media post encouraged more violent language against the judge concerned in any or all of her social media platforms;
- Whether or not her post, in the context of social media and in the experience of similar incendiary comments here or abroad, was a clear incitement to produce violent actions against a judge and is likely to produce such act; and
- Whether or not her statements on her social media accounts, implying violence on a judge, is part of her protected constitutional speech
The high court also noted in Tuesday’s deliberation the statements of the HUKOM, Inc., the Philippine Judges Association, and the University of the Philippines College of Law faculty, as well as the Office of the Court Administrator’s report on the steps taken to ensure the safety and security of Malagar.
Badoy has yet to comment on the decision.
In a post on September 28, the former anti-insurgency spokesperson said that she “did not, in any way, threaten Judge Marlo Malagar.”
“I take full cognizance of the stern warning given to me by the Supreme Court and I would like to assure them that I hear their guidance,” she said.
“What matters to me is that the Supreme Court–the last bastion of Truth and Justice– is hearing the voice of the people now–however much the CPP NPA NDF has perverted my words–because my trust and respect for the Supreme Court are complete and unshaken,” she added.
This was after the SC issued a warning against those who incite violence against judges and their families. – With reports from Mela Lesmoras-gb
NEWS UPDATE: Korte Suprema, nagbabala laban sa mga nag-uudyok ng karahasan o iba pang aksyon na maaaring magdulot ng kapahamakan sa mga hukom at kanilang pamilya. | via Mela Lesmoras pic.twitter.com/9IMXtzvW9S
— PTVph (@PTVph) September 27, 2022
