House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Representative France Castro strongly condemned the increasing death threats and harassment she has been receiving through text messages and phone calls as the meeting of impeachment endorsers and complainants against Vice President Sara Duterte draws near.
“These cowardly acts of intimidation will not deter us from pursuing accountability. 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,” Rep. Castro declared.
Former ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio joined in condemning the threats, stating “These escalating threats only show how desperate they are becoming. Are their masters feeling the heat of our legitimate call for accountability?”
One particularly disturbing threat, sent from mobile number 0955 584 3032, contained explicit death threats and warnings about going to Davao City. It read:
FUCK YOU BITCH! CONVICTED KA KULONG KA NGAYONG 2025! BUTI PA MAGPAKULONG KA NALANG KESA MAPUNTA KA PA DITO SA DAVAO CITY MAPUPUGUTAN LANG KITA NG ULO!!
Meanwhile, harassment calls were received from numbers +639603610219 and 09101234505.
The threats intensified following Rep. Castro’s formal call for a meeting of impeachment endorsers and complainants against VP Sara Duterte. This comes after former President Rodrigo Duterte’s televised threat against the progressive lawmaker’s life in 2023.
“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,” Castro emphasized. (These childish threats and harassment will not intimidate me. They are only proving that we are on the right path in holding accountable those who have squandered public funds.)
Tinio called on the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate these threats and bring the perpetrators to justice. He also urged Rep. Castro’s colleagues in Congress to condemn these attacks on a duly elected representative of the Filipino people.
“We cannot allow a culture of impunity where public servants are threatened for performing their constitutional duties,” Castro concluded.#
