The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Wednesday called for a speedy action on House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro’s complaint against former President Rodrigo Duterte over alleged grave threat.
The IPU made the call through its October 27 Resolution adopted during its assembly held in Luanda, Angola.
“The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is appalled that the former President of the Philippines directly threatened on air the life of a member of parliament,” the group said.
IPU also said it fears that the alleged threat may deter other lawmakers from speaking out.
“The IPU demands that, in light of the serious concerns arising from this situation, the treatment of Ms. Castro’s complaint will proceed speedily; and wishes to be kept informed in this regard,” it added.
In filing the complaint against Duterte, Castro cited the following statements made by the former leader in an SMNI interview which went, “Kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin. Sabi ko sa kanya [Vice President Sara Duterte, his daughter], magprangka ka na lang. Itong intelligence fund na ito gagamitin ko para sa utak ng mga Pilipino kasi ito ang target ko, kayong mga komunista andiyan sa Congress. Prangkahin mo na ‘yan si France Castro.’”
(It’s you communists who I want to kill. I told her, be frank. Say I will use this intelligence fund for the mental development of Filipinos because my targets are you communists there in Congress. Be frank with France Castro.)
Duterte made the comment in defending the P650-million confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and P150 million to the Department of Education (DepEd), which are both headed by his daughter, Sara Duterte, after the House’s decision to realign the P1.23 billion confidential fund under the proposed 2024 national budget.
Sought for comment following the filing of the complaint, former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the former President just went to sleep after learning of the complaint.
GMA News Online has reached out to Medialdea anew regarding IPU’s statement, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA Integrated News
