ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (Facebook)

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro revealed on Tuesday, Jan. 7, that she received death threats, as well as calls and messages of harassment ahead of the Makabayan bloc’s scheduled meeting with groups that filed impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a strongly-worded statement, Castro condemned the threats she received as “cowardly acts of intimidation”.

“In the past, I chose to ignore similar threats, but now is the time to hold these perpetrators accountable for their actions against those who stand for truth and accountability," she stressed.

Castro disclosed one of the threats she received from an unidentified number. The text message contained explicit language, and warned the veteran congresswoman against going to Davao City.

“Buti pa magpakulong ka nalang kesa mapunta ka pa dito sa Davao City mapupugutan lang kita ng ulo,” the text read, originally written with capitalized letters.

(Better for you to get imprisoned than to come here in Davao City, where I'll just cut off your head.)

Castro shared that she also received harassment calls from two other unknown individuals.

"Hindi ako magpapasindak sa mga pagbabanta at harassment na ito. Lalo lang nilang pinapatunayan na tama ang ating ginagawa sa pagpapanagot sa lumustay sa pera ng bayan," the teacher-solon emphasized. 

(I will not be intimidated by these threats and harassment. They are only proving that what we are doing in holding accountable those who squandered public funds is right.)

"We cannot allow a culture of impunity where public servants are threatened for performing their constitutional duties," she added.

For his part, former ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the threats. 

He likewise urged members of Congress to condemn such threats and harassment.

Castro, a deputy minority leader, said the threats against her intensified following Makabayan’s call for a meeting of impeachment endorsers and complainants against VP Sara Duterte.

Based on a letter obtained by Manila Bulletin, the meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, Jan. 8, in the Minority Conference Room of the House of Representatives.

The Makabayan bloc—composed of Castro, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel—filed the second impeachment complaint against Duterte on Dec. 4.

For the meeting, they invited Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, who endorsed the first impeachment complaint filed last Dec. 2, as well as Camarines Sur 3rd district Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. and AAMBIS-OWA Party-list Rep. Lex Anthony Cris Colada, endorsers of the third impeachment rap filed last Dec. 19.

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