Agri worker groups file more cases vs anti-communist task force spokesperson

FARMER and fisherfolk groups on Wednesday filed complaints against the spokesperson of the government’s anti-communist task force for allegedly using her position to spread fake news and tagging groups and personalities as reds or terrorists without basis.

Anakpawis Party-list led the filing of a case against Undersecretary Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, who serves as spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) at the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Usec. Lorraine Badoy-Partosa should prepare to face ton-loads of legal cases courtesy of her baseless accusations meant to intimidate the opposition,” Anakpawis National President Ariel B. Casilao said in a statement.

The other petitioners include the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women, Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), and fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA).

“There’s a lot of social issues besetting the Filipinos and the last thing we want are tall tales and politically-motivated fictions aimed to discredit and implicate the progressive groups and activists. Usec. Badoy, along with her gang in the NTF-ELCAC are simply irrelevant in our modern society,” Mr. Casilao said.

They also called for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC.

Last week, 26 complaints were filed against Ms. Badoy by activists that included party-lists under the Makabayan bloc, teachers, and student leaders. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan