BADOY, CELIZ RELEASED FROM HOUSE DETENTION

CTTO

SUNSHINE Media Network International (SMNI) hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz on Tuesday were ordered released from detention at the House of Representatives on humanitarian grounds.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises unanimously voted to allow the release of Badoy and Celiz after a closed-door meeting.

Both SMNI hosts have apologized for their behavior,r according to committee chairperson Gus Tambunting.

“Sila po ay papalayain for humanitarian reasons dahil Kapaskuhan. May sulat naman tayo galing kay Ka Eric na sila ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa kanilang ginawa ,” Tambunting said.

Celiz’ was ordered detained after he refused to disclose the identity of his source on the alleged P1.8 billion travel expenses of Speaker Martin Romualdez’s supposed aired in the SMNI show “Laban Kasama Ang Bayan.”

Badoy, a former official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, was cited in contempt for “acting in a disrespectful manner” and her “conflicting statements” during the inquiry.

According to Tambunting, the panel would just summon Celiz and Badoy in future hearings on the SMNI issue, as he clarified that the House’s release order has nothing to do with the writ of habeas corpus filed by their spouses questioning their detention.

“They’re free to go. This is not a furlough. We’ve freed them from detention. If we need them, we’ll just call them back,” Tambunting said.