Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 15) — ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro on Monday said her camp is preparing to question the prosecutor’s decision to dismiss her complaint against former President Rodrigo Duterte over alleged death threats he made her.
“May meeting kami with my lawyers at definitely hindi siguro kami sa prosecutor’s office. Meron silang tinitingnan na iba na pwede naming gawin,” Castro told CNN Philippines’ The Source without specifying what option they are considering.
[Translation: I have a meeting with my lawyers and definitely we will not file at the prosecutor’s office. They are looking into something that we can possibly do.]
The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office has junked Castro’s grave threats complaint against Duterte for lack of sufficient evidence.
“Nalungkot ako at lalo akong natakot dahil doon sa mga sinasabi ng prosecutor… Parang tingin ko abogado ka ba ni dating Presidente Duterte?” Castro said.
[Translation: I am saddened and got even more scared because of what the prosecutor said. The way I see it, are you the lawyer of former President Duterte?]
The lawmaker said she will only receive a copy of the decision on Monday.
Castro said Duterte made death threats against her on national television where he talked about his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, and her request for confidential funds in next year’s proposed budget, which Castro strongly opposed.
“Ikaw France, kayong mga Komunista ang gusto kong patayin [You France, you communists, are the ones I want to kill],” Duterte said during his interview on Sonshine Media Network International in October 2023.
Duterte denied Castro’s accusations and was a no-show in both preliminary investigations.
Lawyer Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s presidential spokesperson and chief legal counsel, said the dismissal of the complaint was \”expected.\”
