Castro raises alarm over cop firing gun in BGC traffic incident

MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro claimed that a police officer fired a gun at a motorcycle rider near her vehicle when she was stuck in traffic in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig on Wednesday night.

Castro, during her manifestation at the House of Representatives quad committee hearing on Thursday, said that two police officers went out of their patrol car, which was positioned in front of her vehicle, after a man aboard a motorbike moved near the cops.

One of the police officers supposedly fired his gun in an area crowded with civilians, which Castro deemed improper.

“This is both a personal and collective privilege because it concerns my safety. So last night, Mr. Chair, at around 11:00 p.m., we witnessed an incident involving a police officer firing a gun. We were driving through—I’m not sure if it’s the main road of BGC—when there was a police car in front of us,” Castro narrated in Filipino.

“A person on a motorbike passed in front of us, Mr. Chair, and then a police officer stepped out of the mobile car. Two police officers got out and chased the motorbike rider, who passed in front of us and headed toward the back. I was shocked, Mr. Chair, when one of the police officers fired at the motorbike rider,” she added.

According to Castro, people with her inside the vehicle directed her to duck down.

“I was terrified, Mr. Chair, because why would such an incident happen where, in the middle of traffic, a police officer fires a gun? I believe this is not right, as it occurred in the midst of civilians, with heavy traffic and many vehicles around,” she said.

“This incident reminded me, Mr. Chair, of what happened six years ago in Talaingod, where my vehicle was also fired upon by two men on a motorcycle,” she added, referring to her and other activists’ controversial rescue of Lumad learners in Davao del Norte.

Castro asked the Philippine National Police to verify if there was an operation in the area during that time, or else she would consider it as a threat to her life.

“I hope we can get a report, especially from the police station overseeing BGC, to determine whether this was a legitimate operation. However, firing a gun in front of civilians is unacceptable. Were they even aware that I was there? They fired in the middle of the road while chasing the motorbike rider at the back,” Castro said.

“I take this incident as a personal threat to my safety, Mr. Chair, especially if no police report is provided regarding what happened. You know, Mr. Chair, I was once threatened by former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Vice President Sara Duterte singles me out in her daily statements,” she added.

The threat that Castro was referring to was former President Duterte’s interview with Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) in October 2023 where he said he advised his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte to be frank about what she intends to do with the proposed confidential funds (CF) under her offices — to kill communists like Castro supposedly.

Duterte’s interview came after the House removed the proposed CF of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) for 2024, worth P500 million and P150 million, respectively.

Castro was one of the lawmakers who advocated for removing the two agencies’ CFs.  Vice President Duterte heads the OVP and formerly led the DepEd.

READ: Duterte to Sara: Say secret funds to be used vs ‘communists in Congress’

Castro then filed complaints against Duterte for alleged violation of Article 282 (Grave Threat) under the Revised Penal Code (RPC), and Section 6 (crimes under RPC) of Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 for the ex-President’s statements over national television.

However, the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed these complaints as there was supposedly insufficient evidence to prove that Duterte intended to harm her.

In the resolution last January, Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Ulric Badiola said Castro failed to properly authenticate the Facebook posts, YouTube uploads, and SMNI television broadcasts that contained the alleged threats against her.