Former president Rodrigo Duterte (Malacañang photo)

The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives is looking into possible legal action against former president Rodrigo Duterte for his death threat against ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro. 

In a statement Tuesday, Oct. 17, Kabataan Party-list underscored how grave Duterte's threat was against the lady solon. 

"This is a threat not just to a duly elected representative in Congress, but to all fellow Filipinos who share a critical stance against confidential and intelligence funds and their usage as a whole," said Kabataan, which is represented in the House by Rep. Raoul Manuel. 

"This death threat becomes even more dangerous when it comes from the mouth of a former president and a close political advisor of the current sitting Vice President, who have more than enough power to enact these threats or to influence other people to undertake these steps," it said. 

"Rodrigo Duterte would do well to remember that he is not protected by presidential immunity anymore. We will review all possible courses of legal action to hold him accountable for his threats to Rep. France Castro and the Makabayan bloc," it further said. 

Last week, Duterte was quoted as saying that the confidential funds his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte asked for would be used for the reestablishment of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and to fight off communist recruiters in the educational system.   

“Pero, ang una mong target sa intelligence fund mo, kayo, ikaw France, kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin,” he said.   

(But the first target of your intelligence fund, you people, you France, you communists are the ones I want to kill.)   

Castro, Manuel, and Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Btosas comprise the Makabayan faction. 

READ THIS:

https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/17/house-can-provide-more-security-for-castro

"The fact that Rodrigo Duterte has resorted to lobbying death threats against [Castro] and the rest of the Makabayan bloc tells us that they are now desperate against the massive outrage that the Filipino people have shown in their support for our fight to abolish confidential funds," Kabataan said. 

The elder Duterte was irked by the House's removal of P650 million worth of confidential funds intended for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd) in the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024. 

The OVP and DepEd are both under the control of Vice President Duterte.