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

Senatorial candidate ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro gave a very unflattering reaction to the political advertisement that featured Vice President Sara Duterte and her pal, Senator Imee Marcos. 

"Mga beshie, ito ang reaksyon ko nang mapanood ang bagong political ad ng sanib-pwersang kasamaan at kadiliman (Beshies, this is my reaction after watching the new political ad on the joining of forces between evil and darkness)," Castro said in a Viber message to House reporters on Tuesday, April 15.

The ad showed Duterte throwing her support behind Marcos' reelection bid in 2025 mid-term elections. The theme of the ad was "ITIM", or the Filipino word for black.

For Duterte and Marcos, the whole country is "in mourning" over the alleged prevalence of hunger and crime. 

"Nakakatawa kasi sino ba ang ugat ng gutom, ekonomikong krisis at dilim ng kawalang hustisya sa kasalukuyan? Hindi ba silang #unITIM? (It's funny because who deserves blame for the current hunger problem, economic crisis and lack of justice? Wasn't it them, the #unITI?)," Castro said, making a pun on the UniTeam tandem during the previous 2022 elections.

Vice President Sara Duterte (left), Senator Imee Marcos (Facebook)

"Kaya sa darating na Mayo 12, may pagpipilian tayo, Makabayan naman! (That's why on May 12, you will have a choice, choose Makabayan this time!)" Castro said, referring to the senatorial ticket she belongs to.

Based on the political ad, ITIM meant "Ipaglalaban Tayo ni Imee Marcos (Imee Marcos will fight for us)" and "Inday [Sara] trusts Imee Marcos".

Castro had one more zinger as far as this acronym is concerned.

"ITIM nga talaga, parehong maiitim ang budhi! (Black indeed, both their consciences are black)," she said.

Vice President Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives last Feb. 5, while Senator Marcos was outside the "magic 12" of most senatorial surveys.