Lawyers Denounce Jeffrey Celiz's Asylum Attempt as a Shield for Persecutors, Not the Persecuted
Source: news.source.rappler
The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) has strongly opposed the asylum bid of Jeffrey Celiz in the United States, labeling him not as a dissident but as a military asset and paid propagandist seeking to evade accountability for his actions. Celiz, a host at Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), is facing multiple civil suits in the Philippines for his involvement in systematic red-tagging and disinformation against activists and rights defenders. NUPL argues that asylum should protect the persecuted, not those who persecute, and stresses that Celiz's actions have gone beyond free speech into harmful vilification.
Key Points
NUPL opposes Jeffrey Celiz's asylum bid, describing him as a military asset and propagandist, not a dissident.
Celiz is accused of systematic red-tagging and disinformation against activists and rights defenders.
He faces civil suits from Carol Araullo and Teddy Casiño for malicious red-tagging, with cases pending in Philippine courts.
Celiz and Lorraine Badoy were ordered detained by the Philippine House of Representatives for ignoring a probe into online disinformation.
NUPL argues that asylum should be for the persecuted, not for those who persecute, and Celiz's actions violate the principles of free speech by causing harm.
