Duterte faces first post-presidency criminal complaint

MANILA, Philippines — ACT-Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro yesterday filed a criminal complaint against former president Rodrigo Duterte before the Quezon City Prosecutors Office in connection with the alleged grave threats from the former chief executive.

“I filed a criminal complaint against former president Rodrigo Duterte to make him liable amid the serious threat against me during his program on Oct. 11. He has no immunity (from suit). He should face the case filed against him,” Castro said.

She was referring to Duterte’s television program Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa on the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) and aired on Oct. 11, wherein the former president – addressing criticism of his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds – said, “Pero ang una mong target d’yan (sa) intelligence fund mo, kayo, ikaw France, kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin. Sabihin mo na sa kanya (But your first target there, using your intelligence funds, is you, France, you communists who I want to kill. Tell her that).”

According to Castro, it was clear that Duterte was referring to her.

“I was convinced that he was referring to me as during the first part, he mentioned my full name, France
Castro, that’s why it was me. There is no other Rep. France Castro,” she explained.

“To quote former president Duterte: ‘Prangkahin mo na yan si France Castro. Pati na yang – kun’sabagay kaibigan ko lahat yan – si Satur Ocampo, mahal ko sila at no other time sa history ng Pilipinas ang Communist Party of the Philippines, lahat ng liderato nila, I invited them to break bread with me sa Malacañang (Let’s be frank with that France Castro. Even that – anyway, they are all my friends – Satur Ocampo, I love them and at no other time in Philippine history that the Communist Party of the Philippines, their entire leadership, I invited them to break bread with me at Malacañang),’” Castro added, quoting Duterte.

She said the threat from Duterte happened when she was in grief following the recent death of her father.

According to her, the case of grave threats filed against Duterte was in connection with Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to section