Kinondena ng Kabataan Partylist ang “death threats” umano ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kay ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro.

Matatandaang pinatutsadahan kamakailan ni Duterte si Castro, na isa sa mga hayagang kritiko ng confidential funds (CIFs), at sinabing gagamitin umano ng kaniyang anak na si Vice President Sara Duterte ang CIFs nito para sa Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at upang ihinto umano ang communist insurgency sa bansa.

“Pero ang una mong target sa intelligence fund mo, ‘kayo, ikaw, France (Castro), kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin,” ani Duterte kamakailan.

Sa isa namang pahayag ng Kabataan Partylist nitong Martes, Oktubre 17, iginiit nitong ang pahayag ni Duterte ay nagsisilbi rin umanong banta sa mga kapwa kritiko ni Castro hinggil sa CIFs.

“This death threat becomes even more dangerous when it comes from the mouth of a former president and a close political advisor of the current sitting Vice President, who have more than enough power to enact these threats or to influence other people to undertake these steps,” pahayag ng Kabataan Partylist, na kinakatawan ni Rep. Raoul Manuel.

“Rodrigo Duterte would do well to remember that he is not protected by presidential immunity anymore. We will review all possible courses of legal action to hold him accountable for his threats to Rep. France Castro and the Makabayan Bloc.”

“The fact that Rodrigo Duterte has resorted to lobbying death threats against ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro and the rest of the Makabayan Bloc tells us that they are now desperate against the massive outrage that the Filipino people have shown in their support for our fight to abolish confidential funds.”

“In their desperation, they are now trying to deflect blame from their side and turn the spotlight towards the Marcos dynasty, part of which is House Speaker Romualdez, his main target. Once allies in the election, they are now throwing each other under the bus,” saad pa nito.

Samantala, nanawagan din ang Kabataan Partylist na tanggalin na ang confidential funds at mas mabuti umanong ilipat na lang ang pondo sa mga pampublikong serbisyo.

“The issue at hand is the spending of public funds, not the Duterte dynasty’s funds, nor the Marcos dynasty’s funds, which is why we call for the Filipino people to see the issue at its essence and raise their vigilance against the potential corruption that may be done through confidential funds,” giit ng Kabataan Partylist.

“Confidential funds must be abolished and reallocated to public services which is crucial at this time of recovery from economic crisis,” dagdag pa nito.