‘No sanctuary for lies’: Lawyers oppose red-tagger Jeffrey Celiz’s US asylum bid

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'Asylum, in international law, is a shield for the persecuted, not a hiding place for the persecutors,' the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers says

BAGUIO, Philippines – Progressive group National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) expressed opposition against the asylum bid of red-tagger Jeffrey Celiz.

“Celiz is not a dissident seeking refuge from political persecution. By his own record, he is a military asset and paid propagandist attempting to evade accountability for years of systematic red-tagging, disinformation, and public vilification of activists and rights defenders,” the NUPL said in a statement on Tuesday, April 22.

“Now, confronted with legal reckoning, he recasts himself as the persecuted, insulting those who have been harassed or imprisoned, and dishonoring the memory of those who were disappeared or killed for real acts of dissent,” it added.

Celiz, who works as host for Apollo Quiboloy-owned Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), confirmed in an interview with GMA News that he had left the country to seek asylum in the United States due to alleged harassment. The SMNI host added that he was also avoiding possible arrest orders from the House of Representatives after he was cited in contempt.

The self-confessed former New People’s Army rebel-turned-SMNI host, along with former anti-insurgency spokesperson Lorraine Badoy, were ordered detained by the lower chamber for repeatedly snubbing the probe into the proliferation of disinformation online.

Aside from his House arrest order, Celiz is facing two civil suits filed by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) former chairperson Carol Araullo and current BAYAN chairperson Teddy Casiño, for his malicious and baseless red-tagging of progressives. These cases are currently pending before Quezon City and Makati courts.

Araullo’s son, journalist Atom Araullo, also secured a victory against Celiz after Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 306 ordered Celiz and Badoy to pay the journalist P2.07 million in damages over red-tagging. In the civil case, the court ruled that “red-tagging is, by itself, a manifestation of bad faith.”

“Freedom of expression is not a shield for impunity. While the Constitution upholds this right, the Civil Code provides clear limits: when speech is used to harm, defame, or intimidate others, it becomes actionable. What Celiz practiced was not public discourse in a democracy; it was vilification as state policy. His speech did not inform and debate — it incited and endangered,” the NUPL said.

“Asylum, in international law, is a shield for the persecuted, not a hiding place for the persecutors. If Celiz now fears reprisal, it is not for having spoken truth to power, but for years of trying to silence those who did. There must be no sanctuary for lies and no refuge from accountability,” the lawyers’ group added.

Celiz is among the individuals who faced sedition and inciting to sedition complaints filed by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group under Major General Nicolas Torre III. Torre argued that they lodged the complaints because of the individuals’ act of blocking the implementation of warrants against Quiboloy, who was in hiding for alleged trafficking and abuse.

These complaints, under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, were used to crack down on government critics.

Celiz was also detained in December 2023 after he was held in contempt for refusing to name his source who gave him false information about the alleged travel expenses of Speaker Martin Romualdez. He and Badoy even invoked legal remedies often used by activists they red-tag amid their detention. (READ: Detained SMNI hosts ask for remedy often used by activists they red-tag)

The two were later released due to “humanitarian considerations.” – Rappler.com