Davao City Rep Paolo Duterte advised those who filed criminal complaints against President Rodrigo Duterte not to become onion-skinned despite being the target of his father’s death threats.
It was only Tuesday when ACT Teachers party-list Rep. complained of the “grave threat”. Digong was France Castro after directly threatening the progressive lawmaker’s life in an SMNI interview this October.
“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,” Pulong said in a statement.
“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.”
“Pulong” says this even though the older Duterte is known for lashing out and threatening his critics when he was still president.
The son of the former president further explained, it was time for Castro to “confess” if the former had said something
“‘Di ‘yung nagtatago tayo sa likod ng so-called ‘right na ito,” the younger Duterte said.
“As a Congressman myself, madami din akong alam na maka-Kaliwang mga party-list representatives. Tigilan na lang natin ang ka-dramahan at pagpapa-media.”
All this started after Digong lashed out at critics of the controversial confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte, who is his daughter.
Public servants should not be sensitive – Paolo Duterte
“Ikaw France [Castro], kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin,” said Digong on October 10 in the said SMNI interview.
Castro is known for criticizing the Office of the Vice President’s embezzlement of P125 million confidential funds during 11-19 days in 2022. Such money is used for surveillance.
This video has been removed from YouTube but can still be seen on other social networking sites.
“Kinikilala natin yung freedom of speech. Pero sobra na ito. Sa national TV, sa social media ay magbabanta sa buhay ng isang tao o isang mamamayan,” said Castro to reporters yesterday.
If Digong is found to have violated Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, which refers to “grave threats,” the former president could be jailed for one to six months.
This is in addition to the fine, which depends on the court’s decision.
La Viña explained the former president’s punishment may be increased by one degree, mainly since the Cybercrime Prevention Act covers it.
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