By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Expressing fear that building military infrastructures in Batanes Island may only heighten the regional tensions in the South China Sea, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro on Sunday called for a critical assessment of the long-term consequences of such move.
Castro made the statement on the heels of arrival of two ranking United States Army engineers in Batanes Island ostensibly to prepare for the construction of military infrastructure, including a humanitarian logistics warehouse, as part of the Balikatan military exercises.
“The military transformation of such an idyllic island is highly deplorable and would further escalate the growing tensions in the South China Sea. It would also make Batanes a target of attacks as it would be a forward base of the US if China moves against Taiwan,” the opposition lawmaker said.
She added that instead of “militarizing Batanes,” there should be efforts to uphold peace and stability in the region.
Castro denounced the “militarization of Batanes Island,” which she said may heighten the regional tensions in the South China Sea.
“If this happens or if China escalates its aggression in the West Philippine Sea then we would be right smack in the middle of an inter-imperialist war, making the Philippines the theater of war in Southeast Asia,” she quipped.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Anticipating that the economic charter change (Eco Cha-Cha) will be passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro on Thursday (14 March 2024) said they are considering challenging it before the Supreme Court.
“Just in case na matapos na rin ito eh pag-iisipan din po natin yung pagpapasa ng petition sa Supreme Court kasama ng No to Cha-Cha Coalition,” Castro said in a press conference.
Castro, however, noted that the Eco Cha-Cha being pushed by the lower chamber appears to be “not a priority” of the upper chamber of Congress.
On the other hand, House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin lamented hearing news of Filipinos being hostaged again overseas, knowing that they cannot get jobs in the country because of the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
“Nang naipasa natin on 2nd reading yung economic Chacha, sumabay dito yung balita ng ating mga seafarers, yung 17 na nahostage ulit ng Houthi rebels. So napakasakit noon na narerealize mo ulit na dahil sa walang flexibility o saradong-sarado yung ating mga batas o yung ating Konstitusyon ay talagang de kahon,” Garin noted.
She said these economic restrictions compelled many Filipinos to seek the proverbial greener pastures outside the Philippines.
“Kaya tuloy di tayo makahabol sa ibang bansa at yung ating magagaling na Pilipino ay napipilitan na mangibang-bansa magtrabaho doon kasi dito sa atin kulang na kulang yung pumapasok na investors,” Garin said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Stressing that no one is above the law, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro on Thursday called on the House of Representatives to investigate Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged connection to Oplan Tokhang during her term as mayor in Davao City.
Castro made the call after Arturo Lascañas, a confessed hitman of the Davao Death Squad (DDS) linked the feisty Vice President to extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in Davao City.
“It is no wonder that VP Duterte’s position is not to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) because it would seem that she is involved in the drug killings and not just her father,” Castro noted.
Lascañas has submitted an affidavit before the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the alleged involvement of VP Sara in the EJKs.
“No one is above the law. Justice delayed is justice denied. Huwag nang ipagkait ang hustisyang ilang taon nang isinisigaw ng taong-bayan,” Castro said.
Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday denied orchestrating “Oplan Tokhang” in Davao City during her term as mayor.
“Bago ang script na ito. Sa mga taon na nagsilbi ako bilang vice mayor at mayor ng Davao City, ni minsan ay hindi naugnay ang aking pangalan sa isyung ito,” VP Sara said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Smelling something fishy, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro on Monday said she wants the “shadowy” People’s Initiative for Reform, Modernization and Action (PIRMA) to face the House of Representatives where they get their funding for pushing charter change (Cha-Cha) via people’s initiative or PI.
Castro made the statement on the heels of House Resolution 1541 filed by the Makabayan bloc lawmakers urging the House of Representatives to investigate claims of alleged “signature buying” in the ongoing campaign for Cha-Cha through PI which is valid if it has the signatures of three (3) percent of the voters of each of the country’s legislative districts and 12 percent of all the voters nationwide.
“Kailangan i-open nila. Sinasabi nila sa mga private individual entities na nagsusulong ng pagbabago ng Constitution [sila kumukuha ng pondo] so kailangan nilang sabihin yun para malaman ng taumbayan na hindi government ang ginagamit nila,” Castro said.
It was gathered that PIRMA came out last week to be behind the TV advertisement seeking to stir discussion on Cha-Cha via PI.
“The ongoing signature-buying and the paid advertisement seem to be part of a coordinated effort to force and railroad the amendment of the 1987 Constitution,” Makabayan bloc’s HR 1541 noted.
Earlier, Liberal Party (LP) president and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman claimed that some funds were mobilized to kick off the Cha-Cha petition.
Prominent sociologist Randy David, however, expressed doubt that either President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. or his cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez was behind the “EDSA-pwera” commercial for charter change (Cha-Cha) that began airing on primetime television last week.
“I doubt that President Marcos or his first cousin Speaker Martin Romualdez would wish to premise a productive discussion on Charter change on the supposed failures of Edsa. They are back in power; the last thing they need is to open old wounds and awaken dormant animosities. That advertisement does them a disservice; I don’t believe they’re behind it,” David wrote in his January 14 column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Following the thrashing of the grave threat complaint she filed against former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, ACT Teachers party-list France Castro on Saturday (13 Jan 2024) expressed dismay and said she would consult her lawyers on what steps they would make.
“Kailangan pa naming mapag-aralan ang desisyon at makipagkonsultahan sa aking mga abugado para sa mga susunod naming mga hakbang,” Castro said in a statement.
She said that they have yet to receive a copy of the decision.
“Dismayado ako sa sinasabing pagbasura ng kasong grave threats na isinampa ko laban kay dating Pang. Rodrigo Duterte dahil di nito kinilala ang takot na dinala nito sa akin at sa aking pamilya,” the ACT Teachers lawmaker stressed.
Although he did not appear before the court, Duterte said he made no threat against Castro.
“Para din nitong pinagkait ang katarungan sa akin,” Castro lamented.
In a 14-page resolution, the Quezon City Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) recommended the dismissal of the complaint “for want of sufficient evidence.”
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Alarmed by the “mysterious Edsa-Pwera” television advertisement promoting charter change, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro on Wednesday said she will file a resolution before the House of Representatives seeking to investigate the funding source of the paid commercial.
The national democrat lawmaker was particularly concerned if public funds were used in the pro-Cha-Cha ads that were aired on primetime Tuesday evening across ABS-CBN, TV5, and GMA.
“Were the funds used for this ad from public coffers or money from foreign interests trying to change our Constitution so that they can own most of our country?” Castro asked.
The TV-viewing public was caught by surprise with the questions aired by the ad narrator.
“Pangako nila pagsulong pero sa pagbuo ng 1987 Constitution, na-Edsa-pwera tayo.”
“Ang pinayaman ng Konstitusyon, mamamakyaw at negosyante.”
On December 13 last year, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said the House of Representatives in 2024 will “focus its attention” on proposals regarding restrictions in the entry of foreign capital and investments including Cha-Cha.
Romualdez stressed that Cha-cha was needed to unlock the country’s potential as an investment destination.
But Castro does not believe in Cha-Cha which entices foreign investments as the key to national progress.
“Hindi Konstitusyon ang may kasalanan ng bumubulusok na economic status ng bansa kundi ang neoliberal na polisiya ng kasalukuyan at mga nagdaang administrasyon,” Castro pointed out.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Firing the first shot this new year, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro has lambasted the Department of Education (DepEd) headed by Vice President Sara Duterte for constructing only 2,201 classrooms in 2023.
The House Deputy Minority Leader pointed out that this falls far short of the 165,000 needed and missing the target of 5,000 to 6,000.
“Disyembre 31 na pero 2,201 lang ang nagawa, ni wala sa kalahati ng sarili nilang target tapos may gana pang ipagmalaki na magandang accomplishment daw ito, napakababa naman ng standard ng Kalihim ng DepEd at napakalayo sa bilis nyang gastusin ng P125 milyon ng illegal confidential fund sa loob lamang ng 11 araw noong 2022,” Castro said on Sunday, December 31, 2023.
The national democrat lawmaker was referring to the P125 million confidential funds spent by the Office of the Vice President in the last 11 days of 2022.
“As it is, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vow to prioritize the construction of new classrooms and DepEd Secretary VP Sara Duterte’s recognition of the enormity of shortage in school infrastructure and facilities in her Basic Education Report 2023 appear to be insincere as they failed to demonstrate their firm resolve to cut down the classroom shortage significantly,” Castro hammered on.
She underscored the need to construct 50,000 annually to improve the learning conditions in public schools.
“It had been done and it can be done again if only the current administration were sincere in addressing the classroom crisis as well as the bigger learning crisis,” the ACT Teachers party-list representative stressed.
(IAmigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Citing possible conflict of interest, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro has called on the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to address the complaints of farmers in Yulo King Ranch, owned by the family of Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.
Castro disclosed that the Makabayan bloc which filed a resolution seeking a congressional probe on the issue, will also review the complaints of the farmers.
The Makabayan bloc is composed of party-list lawmakers espousing the so-called “national democratic” political line.
“Kailangan naman tignan din ng Marcos administration itong problema ng ating mga magsasaka dyan sa Yulo ranch,” Castro said.
It was learned that the Makabayan bloc had filed House Resolution 50 as early as July 2016 to investigate in aid of legislation the Yulo King Ranch (YKR) Corporation owned by the family of the current DENR chief.
YKR came into being when 39,238.93 hectares of land in Coron and Busuanga in Palawan was declared by the first Marcos administration as pasture reserve through Proclamation 1387.
However, after the February 1986 civilian-backed military uprising on EDSA in Mandaluyong City that toppled the 20-year Marcos Sr. regime, the land was sequestered by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) assigning the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) as the estate’s fiscal agent to administer the land.
In March 2010, the Supreme Court (SC) lifted the sequestration order in response to YKR Corp’s Motion to Lift Sequestration filed in October 1996.
“Pag-aaralan nga natin yung tungkol dyan dahil may mga kaso daw na pangangamkam ng lupain dyan sa lugar na yan at yun nga ang sinasabi ng ating mga magsasaka, may conflict of interest,” Castro maintained.
The opposition lawmaker said the Agrarian Reform department should also get involved in the probe.
“Well sa DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform) ano, sana tingnan din yung hinaing ng ating mga magsasaka dyan…. at kung makikita yung conflict of interest dyan ng Sec. Yulo sana ang DENR ay imbestigahan din yan dahil syempre ang ating mga magsasaka dapat ang nagmamay-ari ng kanilang mga lupang sinasaka dyan,” Castro quipped.
The Makabayan bloc claimed that there were already farmers cultivating the land even before Proclamation 1387 was issued.
It added that the farmers were also reportedly given “token” compensation by the YKR Corp.
Yulo-Loyzaga has not issued any statement as of this posting on Sunday (24 Dec 2023).
(IAmigo/MNM)
By Liezelle Soriano
House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro said former president Rodrigo Duterte should not be “dramatic” on his response after the lawmaker filed a grave threat complaint against him.
“Huwag siyang nagdadrama na magpapakulong siya. Abogado siya, alam niya ang proseso ng batas kaya pumaloob siya sa proseso ng batas. That is rule of law,” Castro said.
Earlier this week, the Quezon City Prosecutors’ Office served Duterte with a subpoena demanding that he respond to Castro’s complaints filed on December 4 and 11.
The complaint of Castro stemmed from Duterte’s statement made on national television, labeling her as communist and threatened the party-list lawmaker to “kill her.”
“He can send his counsel, but if he does not appear personally, I would say it is a form of disrespect to the prosecutor,” Castro said.
“Bagama’t mabagal ang ating justice system, antayin niya ang proseso ng batas. Huwag niyang pangunahan ang batas,” she added.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
SAYING HE WOULD RATHER GO TO JAIL than submit his counter affidavit on grave threat complaint, former President Rodrigo Duterte has tagged again complainant ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro of having communist links.
The feisty former president made the statement a day after the Office of the City Prosecutor of QC issued a subpoena to Duterte, ordering him to personally submit his answer to the death threats complaint filed against him by Castro.
“Si France, party-list ‘yan, Act. They are the Left who are the members of the Communist Party of the Philippines. They joined the mainstream…mga rebel ‘yan eh. Gusto nila sirain ang Pilipinas,” Duterte said in an SMNI interview on early Thursday, November 16.
He was responding to a query seeking his comment on the subpoena issued on Wednesday, November 15,
The one-page subpoena, issued by Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Ulric Badiola, ordered Duterte to submit his counter affidavit on December 4 and 11, both at 2:30 p.m.
Asked if he will comply with the subpoena, Duterte, himself a former prosecutor, said: “Magpakulong na lang ako. Gina-oppress ako ni France”.
He stressed: “Magpakulong ako, paglabas ko hanapin…Alam mo nakikinig lahat ng military, intelligence community. Akala mo happy yan sila?”
In October, Castro has accused Duterte of grave threat based on Duterte’s television interview in SMNI owned by Duterte’s friend Pastor Apollo Quibuloy wherein he said: “Kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin (It’s you communists whom I want to kill)”.
Duterte went on: “Sabi ko sa kanya [his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte], magprangka ka na lang. Itong intelligence fund na ito gagamitin ko para sa utak ng mga Pilipino kasi ito ang target ko, kayong mga komunista andiyan sa Congress. Prangkahin mo na ‘yan si France Castro.”
Duterte made the remark as he vigorously defended the P650-million confidential funds requested by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and P150 million to the Department of Education (DepEd) in the 2024national budget.
Both offices are headed by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
Earlier, the House of Representatives led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez decided to realign the P1.23 billion confidential and Intelligence funds (CIF) under the proposed 2024 national budget to the agencies tasked to safeguard the country’s security and sovereignty.
Duterte explained that his daughter VP Sara intended to utilize the CIF for preparatory military training (PMT) program for high school students for the proposed reinstatement of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program in tertiary education.
VP Sara’s popularity rating in recent surveys notably plunged due to public uproar over the P125-million CIF that she allegedly spent in just 11 days in 2022.
(ai/mnm)
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)
By Junex Doronio
STRESSING THAT PUBLIC SERVANTS shouldn’t be onion-skinned, Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte on Wednesday came to the defense of his father, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro sued for an alleged grave threat.
The younger Duterte said that his father FPRRD has received “much harsher and humiliating criticisms in the past but never filed a case against anyone.”
“We all have the right to file a complaint against anyone in court. But public servants should not be onion-skinned and should not make use of this right as a tool to silence critics,” the younger Duterte pointed out.
He made the statement after Castro filed a grave threat complaint against the former President before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
“As public servants, we all are under scrutiny by the Filipino people. If the former President has said something that threatened her, then maybe she should come out clean,” Rep. Duterte added.
He also ribbed Castro for being “left-leaning”.
“’Di yung nagtatago tayo sa likod ng so-called ‘right’ na ito. As a Congressman myself, madami din akong alam sa maka-kaliwang mga Party-list Representatives. Tigilan na lang natin ang ka-dramahan at pagpapa-media,” Pulong quipped.
Castro apparently caught the ire of FPRRD when she questioned the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on its P125 million confidential funds that were only spent in 11 days in 2022.
Last October 10, FPRRD defended his daughter and Pulong’s sister, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, over the use of confidential funds in both the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd).
He justified that the CIF would be used for the creation of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.
“Pero ang unang target sa intelligence fund mo, kayo! Ikaw France, kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin. Sabihin mo na sa kanya,” the elder Duterte said, referring to the ACT Teachers party-list lawmaker.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
WHO’S AFRAID OF DIGONG?
Definitely not ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro who filed on Tuesday a criminal complaint against former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte over his alleged threats against her life, which were aired on national television and livestreamed online.
“Malubhang pagbabanta ito sa aking buhay dahil nagkaroon din naman ito ng epekto lalo na sa panahong ako ay kasalukuyang nagdadalamhati sa pagkamatay ng aking tatay, doon pa nya talaga pinagbantaan ang aking buhay,” Castro told reporters after the filing of the criminal complaint against the feisty ex-Chief Executive.
She was accompanied by current and former Makabayan bloc representatives and her lawyers from the Movement Against Disinformation (MAD) when Castro filed a grave threats complaint against the former president at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
It was the first known criminal rap filed against Duterte since he stepped down from office.
Castro apparently caught the ire of FPRRD when she questioned the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on its P125 million confidential funds that were only spent in 11 days in 2022.
Last October 10, FPRRD defended his daughter, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, over the use of confidential funds in both the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd) justifying that it would be used for the creation of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.
“Pero ang unang target sa intelligence fund mo, kayo! Ikaw France, kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin. Sabihin mo na sa kanya,” the elder Duterte said, referring to the ACT Teachers party-list lawmaker.
Castro claimed she was at her father’s wake when she heard Duterte’s remarks.
“Talagang na-shock po ako doon sa ginawang threat ni dating Presidente Rodrigo Duterte sa aking buhay… Talagang masakit. Parang dobleng sakit ang naramdaman ko noong panahon na ‘yon na naka-receive pa ako ng pagbabanta sa aking buhay,” she said.
(ai/mnm)
By Dang Samson-Garcia
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said that the slashed confidential funds of several civilian agencies should have been realigned to State Universities and Colleges.
Castro expressed dismay at the decision of the House of Representatives’ small committee to realign confidential funds to agencies allegedly involved in human rights violations.
“It is the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the National Security Council who are the biggest gainers,” she said. “Dapat sa rice procurement, ospital o SUCs na lang binigay ang dagdag kesa sa NICA at NSC direkta pa itong pinakinabangan ng mamamayan at di magagamit para supilin ang kanilang karapatan.”
Castro commended the small committee for increasing the budget of the Commission on Higher Education’s Tertiary Education Scholarship and Tulong Dunong by P17.1 million.
“At any rate, we still have to wait for the bicam committee version because the confidential fund of the five agencies might be restored,” she added.
“At best, the realignments in the 2024 national budget are mere palliatives against the systemic problems of our country, at worst they can be used to further repress and suppress the Filipino people to maintain the status quo,” Castro said.
By Junex Doronio
SHORT OF SAYING THAT THE COUNTRY’S SECOND-HIGHEST OFFICIAL IS OBSESSED with confidential funds, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro has urged Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to focus instead more on improving the quality of Philippine education.
Castro noted that Duterte seemed to be insinuating that she can no longer be scrutinized about how she will be spending her funds or else those who do so will be labeled an enemy of the state.
“Ibig sabihin nito na hindi na natin siya puwedeng matanong on accountability and transparency. Parang hindi siya makakakilos ng walang confidential funds for peace and order, national development and other related matters to her program,” Castro quipped in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.
During a speech in Butuan City on Wednesday, October 4, Duterte lambasted those who oppose the P650 million confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education.
“Kung sino man kumokontra sa confidential funds ay kumokontra sa kapayapaan. Kung sino ang kumokontra sa kapayapaan ay kalaban ng bayan,” Duterte said.
However, it can be recalled that Duterte also told senators during the OVP and DepEd’s budget briefing that she “can live without confidential funds, but of course, our work will be much easier if we have the flexibility.”
The House of Representatives led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez decided to realign the confidential funds to agencies protecting the West Philippine Sea and other agencies directly engaged in surveillance and intelligence gathering.
(ai/mnm)
By Dang Samson Garcia
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro expressed grave concern on the dismal learning situation in the country.
“Aside from its findings that the Philippines remains among the poorest in learning in East Asia and the Pacific, with nine out of 10 Filipinos unable to read and understand a simple, age-appropriate reading material by age 10, the World Bank report on the quality of education in the region, also red flagged the Philippines as being among the worst countries —because the Philippine government spending on education represented only 3.2 percent of the country’s wealth or gross domestic product when it should be at least 6,” Castro said.
The solon stressed this is a matter the Alliance of Concerned Teachers have been pointing out to correct for years now.
“The WB study also emphasized that central in solving the learning crisis is to support our teachers. This can be done by significantly increasing their salaries and benefits, lessening their workload and giving them ample time to rest and recharge. All of these have been raised by ACT decades ago but officials of the DepEd hardly listen,” she added.
Castro explained the unprecedendent drop in enrollment at the opening of this school year, with 2 million school-age children unaccounted for, revealed the ongoing damage to education caused by the pandemic years as well as the worsening economic situation, requiring urgent teaching and learning interventions, not surveillance activities nor trips abroad.
“With such a deep learning crisis, we need an educator with knowledge, experience, and compassion for students, teachers, and education workers who will focus full time at the helm of Deped. In short, we need someone who knows what she’s doing – not a politician who considers it a stepping stone to higher office and treats the Deped as a law enforcement agency,” Castro further said.
(by Dang Samson Garcia)
ACT TEACHERS Party-list Representative France Castro called on the Department of Education to restore the accurate historical representation of the martial law period in textbooks used in schools.
Castro also urged her fellow legislators to join her in defending the truth and ensuring that the next generation is aware of the atrocities and human rights violations committed during the regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos.
“The decision to remove Marcos from the term ‘Diktadurang Marcos’ is a clear revision of history and an insult to the countless victims of human rights abuses and atrocities committed during the martial law period,” Castro said.
“This is a clear violation of Republic Act 10368 or Marcos Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 and the DepEd should know this,” Castro emphasized.
The teacher turned lawmaker said that she believes that it is the duty of teachers to teach the truth to the younger generation.
She said that by removing “Marcos” from the term, the nation is denying students the opportunity to fully understand the historical context and the impact of martial law on our nation.
“This decision is a disservice to their education and a disservice to the pursuit of historical truth,” she stressed.
“Just because the current president is the son of the Dictator Marcos doesn’t mean that we should erase his family’s name from the proper term for name for the dictatorship,” she added.
By Dang Samson Garcia
ACT TEACHERS Party-list Representative France Castro expressed deep concern over the big decrease in the number of enrollees for School Year 2023-2024.
“It is truly disheartening to see that instead of an increase in the number of students as we transition back to normalcy, we are witnessing a drastic drop of over three million enrollees,” Castro said.
Historically, student enrollment in the Philippines has been increasing by 2 percent every year.
The decline in enrollment occurred only during the SY 2020-2021 due to the pandemic, but it showed signs of recovery in the next school year.
“As it is, the Philippine education system not only faces the challenge of learning loss but also the loss of three million learners. We must delve into the causes of this issue and conduct a thorough investigation,” Castro said.
The lawmaker urged the Department of Education to prioritize addressing the barriers that hinder students from enrolling, such as lack of access to technology, economic constraints, and safety concerns.
She also asked DepEd to collaborate with other government agencies, local government units, and educational institutions in the implementation of effective strategies that will encourage parents and guardians to enroll their children.
“We cannot afford to allow this trend to continue. The government must take immediate action to ensure that every Filipino child has equal access to quality education,” the lawmaker added.