VP Sara cites Badoy, Celiz for courage, being steadfast

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday expressed support for Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz following their release from detention at the House of Representatives.

Badoy and Celiz were cited for contempt and detained. They were released on Tuesday night on humanitarian grounds.

“Kahanga-hanga ang tapang at tatag na ipinamalas nina Dr. Badoy at Ka Eric para ipaglaban ang ating karapatan at itaguyod ang ating Saligang Batas,” Duterte said in a statement.

(Dr. Badoy and Ka Eric's courage and being steadfast to fight for our rights and push our Constitution are admirable.)

“Simbolo sila ng isang bayan na naninindigan ng tama at naninindigan para sa tama,” she added.

(They are a symbol of a country that is standing for what is right)

In her statement, Duterte also mentioned retired Philippine Military Academy alumni and former members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who she said called for the release of the two hosts.

The House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises earlier cited Badoy and Celiz for contempt during the inquiry on the franchise of SMNI.

Celiz was cited for contempt by the House committee for his refusal to divulge the identity of his source whom he said gave the wrong information about Speaker Martin Romualdez's travel fund.

Badoy was cited for contempt and detained for allegedly lying about her role as producer and host in her program. 

The inquiry on the SMNI franchise stemmed from a broadcast on Romualdez supposedly having a P1.8-billion travel fund. 

Celiz claimed it was from a source which he later claimed provided wrong information.

A financial report from the Office of the Secretary-General showed that the House’s entire budget for travel expenses was only P39.6 million, of which P4 million was spent by the Speaker.

he House Committee on Legislative Franchises released Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) program hosts Eric Celiz and Lorraine Badoy from their detention at the Batasang Pambansa on Tuesday night.

House Committee on Legislative Franchises chairperson Gus Tambunting of Parañaque had earlier signed off on the release order on humanitarian grounds.

“Ang kalayaan ang pinanindigan, ipinaglalaban, hindi ito ibinibigay,” Celiz said.

(Freedom is something you stand up for... something you fight for. It is not given.)

Tambunting said Celiz asked for a furlough saying his mother was physically unwell. —NB, GMA Integrated News