Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro had a fierce exchange of statements following Castro’s filing of a grave threat complaint against former President Rodrigo Duterte due to alleged death threats.
“We all have the right to file a complaint against anyone in court. But public servants should not be onion-skinned and should not make use of this right as a tool to silence critics,” Duterte said.
“The former President has received much harsher and humiliating criticisms in the past but never filed a case against anyone. As public servants, we all are under scrutiny by the Filipino people… Tigilan na lang natin ang ka-dramahan at pagpapa-media,” he added.
In response, Castro said criticism is different from a death threat.
“Matatanggap ko ‘yung mga kritisismo kasi iyon naman ay part ng freedom of speech, freedom of expression, pero ‘yung death threat iba ito doon sa criticism,” the House deputy minority leader said.
She also dismissed comments that House leaders seem to be in connivance after the Lower House moved to realign the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte’s offices to agencies in charge of protecting national security.
“Siguro ‘yung sinasabing connivance with the speaker ito ay baseless, baka imagination na lang nila ‘yon,” Castro said.
“Without the Speaker at the scene, nakita naman ninyo kahit sa past Congress, kini-criticize naman talaga namin itong confidential funds, mga intelligence funds, mga pork barrel type na mga pondo,” she continued. – Report from Mela Lesmoras-ag