Castro faces ethics complaint from IP leaders, claims it's 'revenge'
At A Glance
- The Ata-Manobo Tribal Council of Talaingod, Davao del Norte filed on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 10, an ethics complaint against Makabayan solon ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro--the basis of which was her conviction for allegedly endangering minors in November 2018.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (PPAB)
The Ata-Manobo Tribal Council of Talaingod, Davao del Norte filed on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 10, an ethics complaint against Makabayan solon ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro--the basis of which was her conviction for allegedly endangering minors in November 2018.
The group’s leaders, accompanied by lawyer Israelito Torreon, filed the complaint before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
In a subsequent statement, Castro said the complaint filed against her was just “another baseless harassment suit”.
She stressed that this was akin to the “trumped-up” charges she faced over a 2018 humanitarian mission to assist Lumad communities.
Last July, Castro, former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, and 11 others were convicted for violating Section 10(a) of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act. The decision is still under appeal.
"We know the people behind these harassment suits. They are the same individuals being exposed as gross human rights violators and plunderers of the people's money,” said Castro.
The militant congresswoman reckoned that the ethics complaint was a form of “revenge” following the congressional inquiries into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs and Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of public funds.
She added that this was part of a broader campaign to silence critics of state-sponsored violence and human rights violations.
"These fabricated charges are meant to intimidate and harass those who stand in solidarity with oppressed communities," Castro noted.
“But we are undeterred. We will continue to fight for justice and accountability,” she continued.
Castro, along with her co-accused, vows to continue their call for the dismissal of their charges.
"Hindi kami titigil sa paglaban hanggang makamit ang katarungan," she emphasized.
(We will not stop fighting until justice is achieved.)