By Liezelle Soriano
ACT Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro stated that her decision to file a lawsuit against former President Rodrigo Duterte was a necessary legal action to ensure her protection and not for any other reason.
She made this statement in response to comments made by Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte, the son of the former president, during an interview in which he emphasized that public servants should be open to public criticism and should not be overly sensitive.
“Why does it seem like I am the one at fault when my life was threatened and I was subjected to red-tagging once again?” Castro remarked.
“I filed a grave threats case against former President Rodrigo Duterte to safeguard myself, my family, and my fellow colleagues,” she emphasized.
Castro further highlighted the need to put a stop to death threats and the practice of red-tagging being aired on television, as they pose a significant risk to people’s lives.
“This goes beyond mere criticism and should not be tolerated, as it perpetuates a climate of impunity. We must establish clear boundaries,” she explained.
In a televised episode on SMNI, the former president offered his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, advice on how to utilize confidential funds.
“But your primary target with your intelligence fund, you, France, and all you Communists, those are the ones I want to eliminate,” the former president declared on national television.
Castro proceeded to file a complaint against the elder Duterte on Tuesday (24 Oct 2023), alleging violations of Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. (ai/mnm)
