I was deprived of justice – Castro

MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers partylist Rep. France Castro yesterday expressed “dismay” over the dismissal of the grave threat case she filed against former president Rodrigo Duterte by the Office of the Quezon City Prosecutors Office.

“I am dismayed over the decision because it did not acknowledge the fear that the threats caused me and my family. It’s like depriving me of justice that I deserve,” said Castro in a statement.

The lawmaker noted they have not officially received a copy of the decision so she could not ascertain yet the next action that they would take.

The prosecutors dismissed Castro’s grave threat complaint due to lack of “sufficient evidence” to indict Duterte for the charges against him.

The complaint stemmed from Duterte’s pronouncement in a television interview in November 2023 where he said: “It’s you communists whom I want to kill.”

“I told her (Vice President Sara Duterte) to be frank. I will use this intelligence fund for the mental development of Filipinos because my targets are the communists there in Congress. Be frank with France Castro,” Duterte maintained.

This stemmed from Castro’s criticism of the intelligence funds earmarked for the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which are both headed by the younger Duterte.