Castro laments conviction: I’ve been teaching, protecting kids my whole life

ACT Party-list Rep. France Castro (left) and Satur Ocampo. (File photo from PHOTO HOUSE OF REP/INQUIRER FILES)

MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro cannot help but be emotional after she was convicted for child abuse by a Tagum, Davao del Norte court.

She cited the irony in the case as she has been teaching children and fighting for their rights in the last 25 years.

Castro, during an interview with reporters at the Batasang Pambansa complex on Monday, admitted feeling bad about the decision.

The case stemmed from complaints that she and former Bayan Muna Party-list lawmaker Satur Ocampo kidnapped Lumad students from Talaingod town.

The guilty verdict was handed down earlier for violation of Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

“Off all cases pa, ano ko… as teacher, 25 years nating pinangalagaan ang ating mga estudyante. Ngayon, child abuse pa ang ika-kaso sa akin. So, talagang nakakalungkot, kasi ako pa na teacher na talagang nangalaga sa kapakanan ng mga estudyante,” Castro said.

(Off all cases pa, I will face child abuse cases when I as a teacher, for 25 years, we have taken care of our students. So it is really saddening, because I, as a teacher, have been really taking care and looking out for students’ welfare.)

“Medyo emotional ako kasi, as teacher, ang naging trabaho ko naman talaga ay pangalagaan ‘yung kapakanan ng mga estudyante, at siyempre, ‘yung pagbigay ng knowledge at ganitong kaso pa ang ikakaso sa akin, child abuse. Kaya parang masama ang loob sa ganitong desisyon ng judge,” she added.

(I have been emotional because as a as teacher, I was working to ensure the safety and the welfare of students, and of course, imparting knowledge, and then I would face this case — child abuse. That’s why I feel bad with this decision of the judge.)

However, Castro said she and Ocampo will not evade justice, saying that they intend to question the decision.

“But anyway, like we said, we will face this case squarely and we will not hide […] At any rate, like what Ka Satur said, we would appeal and face this decision, and well, deny this decision handed against us,” she said.

“Our resolve is strong and we feel that this will be dismissed at the end of the road.  And we will face this, we would not hide, evade our laws and our justice system. We are ready to face the people and say we really did nothing wrong. No child abuse. We did not do these allegations because our advocacy is for the education of the youth and Lumad children,” she added.

Castro and Ocampo, along with 16 others, were arrested by police in November 2018 for allegedly holding 14 minors, reportedly to teach them revolutionary ideas against the government.

The group was on board five vans which were intercepted at a police and military checkpoint in Talaingod.

The minors, who Castro and Ocampo said were being rescued, are students of a Salugpungan School in Sitio Dulyan, Palma Gil in Talaingod.

READ: LOOK: Mugshots of Satur Ocampo, France Castro 

ACT Teachers and Bayan Muna are two groups critical of the government.

The organizations have been linked by their critics to the underground communist movement, the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Groups and human rights workers have denied the groups’ alleged association to CPP-NPA, calling it as mere red-tagging.

READ: Ex-lawmaker hopes SC ruling frees activists from red-tagging 

In the 25-page decision dated July 3, the Tagum Regional Trial Court Branch 2 convicted the two progressive leaders, along with 11 of their co-accused, of violating R.A. No. 7610.

All those convicted were ordered to serve a jail sentence of four years to six years, aside from being ordered to pay a total of P20,000 – P10,000 for civil indemnity and P10,000 for moral damages – to each of the 14 victims.

“Records reveal that the prosecution has established proof beyond reasonable doubt that the accused… committed acts detrimental to the safety and well-being of the minor Lumad learners,” the court decision states.

READ: Satur Ocampo, France Castro guilty of child abuse – Tagum City court 

Castro said this development will not prevent her from running for the Senate in the 2025 midterm elections.

READ: ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Castro to run for senator in 2025 

“Even if we have cases like these, our resolve to continue our fight for Lumad rights and of our Lumad children’s welfare, and this would not stop me from pursuing a bigger endeavor in the future,” she said.