Before he started making documentaries for his GMA7 show The Atom Araullo Specials, Atom Araullo was a news reporter for ABS-CBN, having been known to be part of the Kapamilya network through ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs and shows like TV Patrol, Bandila, and the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).

Last September 11, Atom filed a ₱2M damage suit against Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz. He was accompanied by his parents and his legal counsel, Atty. Tony La Viña, at the prosecutor's office in Quezon City.

At the press briefing, Atom said, “Ngayong araw nagsampa ako ng kasong civil laban kay former Usec. Lorraine Badoy at kay Jeffrey Celiz dahil sa kanilang mga pahayag at paninirang puri laban sa akin at sa aking pamilya, sa pamamagitan ng kanilang programming sa SMNI at sa social media.”

In his complaint, the popular reporter also asserted that the acts of Celiz and Badoy-Partosa “have grossly harmed his personal and professional standing. Their red-tagging statements, which have been widely disseminated, have caused substantial harm to his reputation, leading to both emotional and financial distress.”

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Instead of filing a criminal complaint, Atom opted to file a civil suit because he was opposed to the criminalization of libel.

"Pero dapat managot ang mga pasimuno ng pagpapakalat ng disinformation lalo hindi ito pipigilan ito ay maaring magkaroon ng matinding epekto hindi lamang sa kalusugan ng aking pamilya kundi maging sa demokrasya sa kabuuan,” he added.

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Atom’s lawyer Atty. La Vina also spoke up about their case and holding the respondents liable for their red-tagging actions.

 "Atom's reputation and mental health and the family is worth more than ₱2 million, 'di ba in fact priceless yun. Pero kailangan kasi sa court kasi reasonable pero kailangan din enough na may bigat pa rin sa may hinahabol. Napakahalaga na gawin nating accountable 'yung mga nagre-red tag at 'yung masamang consequences ng pagre-red tag. Gaya ng sinabi ni Atom, may consequences ‘yun sa kaniya, sa kanyang pamilya, sa lipunan. Importante ‘yung civil liability, lalo na for a media person. Ayaw natin ng libel, so Civil Code ang ginamit dito. Sinasabi kasi ng Civil Code na bawal kang maging mapang-api, bawal kang magsalita ng ganito sa inyong kapwa tao, napaka-simpleng provision ng Civil Code," La Viña explained.

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Last month, Atom’s mom, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Emeritus Chairperson Carol Pagaduan Araullo, also filed a similar complaint against Badoy and Celiz for red-tagging.

Talent manager Noel Ferrer also shared in his post more details about Atom’s complaint.

He wrote, “A COMPLAINT for Civil Damages is filed today, September 11, 2023 at 8:30AM at the Office of the Clerk of Court, RTC, Quezon City, to seek redress for damages and injury suffered by Mr. Alfonso Tomas ‘Atom’ P. Araullo due to the defamatory statements maliciously disseminated by Jeffrey ‘Ka Eric’ L. Celiz and Lorraine Marie T. Badoy-Partosa. This legal action is intended to hold accountable the two SMNI hosts for their wrongful acts and to highlight how red-tagging foment hate, abuse, and violence against journalists and truth-tellers. Atom Araullo’s resolve to file this case is in support of a broader push back against red-tagging and the spread of disinformation that suppress democratic discourse and the rule of law.”