Altermidya stands in full solidarity with journalist Atom Araullo on his firm stand against enemies of press freedom and other human rights violations.

Today, our colleague filed a P2-million civil suit against notorious red-taggers Lorraine Badoy-Partosa and Jeffrey Celiz who have repeatedly attempted to vilify him and his family, and undermine his work as a journalist.

We also commend Atom for filing a civil complaint instead of a criminal libel case in accordance with our principled stand against its criminalization, however well-deserved our charges are against the two defendants. He then has joined the ranks of Atermidya, Bulatlat, Kodao and Pinoy Weekly, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and his own mother, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan chairperson emerita Dr. Carol Pagaduan Araullo, as among those who sought the relief of the law against Badoy-Partosa, Celiz and their enablers.

That the powerful voice of one of the country’s most awarded and highly regarded journalists is added to the fight against the menace of red-tagging is an important step in defending the people’s right to know.

We look forward to the day when the various forums where we have lodged our respective complaints would issue their decisions upholding human rights and freedoms and their violators, such as Badoy-Partosa and Celiz, are rightfully punished by the law.