THE MINDANAO Indigenous People’s Council of Elders and Leaders demanded the immediate expulsion of ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro from the House of Representatives.
The group is seeking justice for 14 Indigenous children whom Castro is accused of abuse, as well as for the recent contempt citation against Indigenous Peoples (IP) lawyer Atty. Zuleika Lopez.
The council expressed deep concern over Castro’s continued presence in Congress, despite her conviction for child abuse. They emphasized that Castro’s actions, including the contempt citation against Lopez, demonstrate a blatant disregard for indigenous rights and the rule of law.
The group highlighted the irony of Castro, a convicted criminal, abusing another Indigenous Peoples leader. They stressed the importance of protecting the rights of all individuals, including indigenous peoples, and called for a fair and just legal system.
The Council urged the House leadership to take immediate action and expel Castro. They also called on the Department of Justice to clarify the legal status of Castro’s conviction and her continued presence in Congress.
The group reiterated that indigenous communities will continue to fight for their rights and will not tolerate injustice. They called on the government to uphold the rule of law and respect the rights of indigenous peoples.
In a decision promulgated on July 15, 2024, the Regional Trial Court, Branch 2 of Tagum City, Davao del Norte, found Castro and Ocampo, among others, guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of violating Section 10(a), Article VI of Republic Act No. 7610 (the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act). The court sentenced them to a minimum of four years, nine months, and eleven days of imprisonment, up to a maximum of six years, eight months, and one day.
“As an IP organization representing the communities in Mindanao, we question the continued presence of Representative France Castro in the House of Representatives while we seek justice on behalf of the children of the Ata tribe of Talaingod,” the statement read.
“We were deeply hurt as Indigenous Peoples when we saw her citing Atty. Zuleika Lopez, a fellow IP from the Ovu Manobo and Bagobo Klata Cultural Communities, is in contempt. We remember her father, Judge Jose Lopez, who also fought against abuses committed against Indigenous Peoples.”
“It is unimaginable to us that Representative France Castro, a convicted criminal in the Philippines, continues to abuse Indigenous Peoples—first, by mistreating the 14 Ata children and now by targeting a lawyer and fellow IP. Atty. Zuleika Lopez should not have been cited in contempt, as she courageously faced the Congressional Quad Committee. She was invited as a resource person, and her rights must be protected. It is unacceptable that, through the misuse of contempt, she could be detained in a women’s correctional facility. It was heartbreaking to see her cry. We, as Indigenous Peoples, value justice and always respect individual rights.”
“You can imagine how we felt when we saw Representative Castro celebrating on video her success in putting an IP lawyer into detention,” the statement continued.
“We call on the leadership of the House of Representatives to immediately expel a convicted criminal from their ranks. France Castro, who was judicially convicted of abusing 14 Indigenous children and endangering their lives, has no place in Congress.”
“We also call on the Department of Justice to clarify the legal standing of the court’s decision against Representative France Castro and how she has managed to evade its consequences.”
“The voices from our ancestral lands and communities will only grow louder if these abuses continue. Rest assured, we will stand by the Constitution and the Filipino people. We long to see a society where our government is fair and respects the rights of Indigenous Peoples,” the statement concluded.
Screenshot photo of Rhoda Grace B Saron
