France Castro

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Lustina and the surname or paternal family name is Castro.
France Castro
Official portrait, 2019
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for ACT Teachers
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 30, 2016
Serving with Antonio Tinio (2016–2019)
Personal details
Born
Francisca Lustina Castro

(1966-05-24) May 24, 1966 (age 58)
Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, Philippines
Political partyMakabayan (2016-present)
ACT Teachers (partylist)
Alma materPhilippine Normal University (BSE[a])

Francisca "France" Lustina Castro (born May 24, 1966) is a Filipino educator, trade union activist, and politician who serves as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the 19th Congress for the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), and has been the House deputy minority leader since 2022. She was also a member of the 18th Congress and 17th Congress.

Early life and education

Castro was born in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur.

Castro's father was a driver and her mother was a housewife. Castro and her four siblings all graduated from public schools.[1]

Castro took BSE[b] Math at the Philippine Normal University where she graduated cum laude. She had intended to become an accountant but her family could not afford to send her to a private school. In college, she was a member of the League of Filipino Students.[1]

Castro was a contractual teacher at a school in Manila for four years. She applied to teach at Quirino High School in Quezon City where she was appointed to a permanent position to teach Math.[1] As a member of ACT, she led teachers in a campaign to fight for permanent positions.[1]

Castro is the former secretary general of ACT.[2]

Political career

House of Representatives (2016–present)

Castro was first elected to the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 2016, as a party-list representative for the Alliance of Concerned Teachers.

In 2019, Castro co-authored an anti-endo bill that sought to give workers security of tenure by the ending the practice of labor contractualization.[3]

In 2020, Castro joined fellow lawmakers in protesting the passage of House Bill number 6875, which eventually became the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.[4]

In 2022, Castro was appointed as a deputy minority leader.[5]

In October 2023, House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro, House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas, and Representative Raoul Manuel filed House Resolution 1393, which called on the Marcos administration to cooperate in the International Criminal Court's investigation into Philippine drug war and allegations of crimes against humanity under President Rodrigo Duterte.[6] In November 2023, House Resolution 1393 underwent first reading and was referred to the committee on rules and sent to the justice committee.[7]

ACT Teachers Partylist and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers initiated consultations with the Department of Education and the Civil Service Commission regarding the granting of overtime benefits to teachers, which resulted in the issuance in April 2024 of Department of Education Order No. 5 Series of 2024 or the Rationalization of Teachers Workload in Public Schools and Payment of Teaching Overload.[8] According to Castro, under the order, "teachers will be compensated for work done over and above their regular workload and beyond their regular working hours".[9]

Castro is co-author of Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, signed in June 2024, raising the allowance of public school teachers from PHP5,000 to P10,000 starting in 2025.[10]

Confidential funds investigation

In August 2024, at hearings by the House appropriations panel, France Castro asked the Office of the Vice President (OVP) why it spent in 2022 P73 million in confidential funds that the Commission on Audit had disallowed. The amount is more than half the P125 million in confidential funds that the OVP spent in 11 days.[11]

In November 2024, Castro took part in the House committee on good government and public accountability investigation on the alleged misuse of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education under Sara Duterte.[12]

Quad committee investigation on drug war killings

Castro was part of the House quad committee that investigated the killings committed during the Philippine drug war.[12]

Castro during the 2024 Makabayan Convention for the 2025 elections.

Filing of impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte

Main article: Impeachment of Sara Duterte

On December 4, 2024, former Congress Representative Satur Ocampo and 74 others with the endorsement of Rep. France Castro filed the second impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, citing betrayal of public trust for her office's alleged misuse of confidential funds.[13][14]

2025 Philippine Senate campaign

On June 26, 2024, during commemorations for the 42nd anniversary of the ACT, Castro declared her candidacy for the 2025 Philippine Senate election.[15]

Political positions

Castro supported the franchise renewal for broadcast company ABS-CBN in 2020.[16]

Castro campaigned to increase teachers' salaries while she was secretary general of ACT.[17] In Congress, Castro is pushing to raise the national minimum wage to PHP33,000 and teachers' basic salaries to PHP50,000 in both public and private schools.[18]

In 2022, France Castro called on President Bongbong Marcos to end endo contractualization and regularize casual workers who have been working in government for years. According to Castro, there are more than 500,000 contractual workers out of 2.3 million employees in government.[19][20]

Castro has criticized the government's jeepney phaseout plan, stating that the government lacks a coherent plan to avert a transport crisis.[21] She warned of possible transport fare hikes and urged the government to support local manufacturers, and protect the livelihood of jeepney operators and drivers.[21] Castro stated in 2023 that the planned jeepney phaseout will have a "profound impact on transportation and economy, directly affecting approximately 28.5 million commuters".[22]

France Castro supports the practice of transparency and accountability through the publication of government official's Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). In November 2020, Castro was among the only 5 members of the House of Representatives to release their SALN to the public.[23]

Criminal charges

Further information: Red-tagging in the Philippines

On November 28, 2018, Satur Ocampo, Castro and over 70 others were arrested on kidnapping and human trafficking charges over the transport of Lumad minors from the town of Talaingod, Davao Del Norte. Ocampo's group was released after posting bail of PHP80,000.00 each.[24]

Castro in 2024 mobilization to denounce the Tagum City court conviction.

In July 2024, Tagum City Regional Trial Court Branch 2 Jimmy Bustillo Boco, in a 26-page judgment sentenced Satur Ocampo, ACT-Teachers Castro and 11 others to 4 years to 6 years imprisonment, including P10,000 as civil indemnity and P10,000 as moral damages.[25] The accused known as “Talaingod 18” violated Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610, for endangerment of 14 Lumad students of the Salugpongan Ta Tanu Ingkanogan Community Learning Center Inc. in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.[26] In December 2024, the Talaingod Ata-Manobo Tribal Council filed an ethics case with Philippine House Committee on Ethics and Privileges against Castro, based on her court conviction.[27]

Human rights groups criticized the decision of the court. Human Rights Watch placed the conviction in the context of red-tagging and other "bogus" accusations against Lumad schools in Mindanao.[28] ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights described the verdict as an "absurd decision that has no basis in reality", while ACT-NCR Union said the verdict was dangerous precedent that "criminalizes acts of solidarity and support for marginalized communities".[29]

Awards

In 2019, she was awarded the Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights for her work organizing teachers[30] and the Febe Velasquez Trade Union Rights Award for her work in defense of trade unions and human rights.[2]

Notes

  1. ^ The degree referenced here is either a Bachelor in Secondary Education or a Bachelor of Science in Education.
  2. ^ The degree referenced here is either a Bachelor in Secondary Education or a Bachelor of Science in Education.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Umil, Anne Marxze (October 11, 2011). "France Castro: teacher, friend, activist". Bulatlat. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "France Castro of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers: "President Duterte is scared of the words 'human rights'"". Equal Times. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  3. ^ Cepeda, Mara (2019-08-05). "Despite Duterte veto, Makabayan bloc refiles anti-endo bill in House". Rappler. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  4. ^ Cepeda, Mara (2020-06-03). "'Draconian' anti-terror bill, feared to be used vs gov't critics, hurdles Congress". Rappler. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  5. ^ "House minority bloc officers bared; here they are". Manila Bulletin.
  6. ^ Panti, Llanesca (2023-10-18). "Marcos' ICC cooperation on Duterte probe urged anew". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
  7. ^ Chi, Cristina (November 16, 2023). "House resolution supporting ICC probe of Duterte could be sent to committee soon — Castro". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
  8. ^ Castro, France (2024-05-04). "Tell it to SunStar: A landmark victory for teachers". SunStar. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
  9. ^ "'Wala nang TY': Castro lauds DepEd Order on payment for teaching overload". Politiko. 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
  10. ^ Atienza, Kyle Aristophere T. (2024-06-03). "Teachers' allowance law signed". Business World. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
  11. ^ Chi, Cristina. "COA disallows nearly 60% of VP Sara's confidential expenditures in 2022". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
  12. ^ a b Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (2024-11-13). "Castro on VP Sara showing up at drug war hearing: Attend OVP fund probe". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  13. ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (December 4, 2024). "VP Sara Duterte faces 2nd impeachment rap". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Manila, Philippines: INQUIRER.net. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  14. ^ De Leon, Dwight (December 4, 2024). "Sara Duterte slapped with second impeachment complaint". Rappler. Manila, Philippines: Rappler Inc. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Balancio, Joyce (2024-06-26). "Rep. France Castro to run for Senate in 2025". ABS-CBN News.
  16. ^ Yap, D. J. (2020-01-28). "Makabayan bloc files bill seeking ABS-CBN franchise renewal". Inquirer. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  17. ^ Cruz, Anne Ednalyn de la (2014-09-09). "Teachers press for proposed law for wage hike". Bulatlat. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
  18. ^ Barro, Dexter (June 4, 2024). "'We owe it to them': Castro pushes for teachers' salary hike after signing of allowance law". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
  19. ^ Peña, Kurt Dela (2022-11-21). "Ending 'endo' must start with government, advocates say". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
  20. ^ "Regularization of gov't contractual workers pushed". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
  21. ^ a b Basilio, Kenneth Christiane L. (2024-05-16). "Gov't lacks plan to avert transport crisis from jeepney phaseout — lawmaker". Business World. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
  22. ^ Andrade, Jeannette I. (2023-12-18). "Rep. France Castro warns of transport crisis". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
  23. ^ Cruz, Jovee Marie N. de la (2020-11-03). "Only 5 House members have released SALN–lawmakers". Business Mirror. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
  24. ^ LOOK: Satur Ocampo, lawmaker charged with kidnapping, human trafficking - ABS-CBN News
  25. ^ Laqui, Ian (July 15, 2024). "Rep. France Castro, Satur Ocampo guilty of 'endangering minors' –court". Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  26. ^ Tejano, Ivy (July 15, 2024). "Tagum court convicts Rep. France Castro, Satur Ocampo of child abuse". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  27. ^ Barro II, Dexter (December 10, 2024). "Castro faces ethics complaint from IP leaders, claims it's 'revenge". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  28. ^ Conde, Carlos (2024-07-18). "Philippines Activists, Educators Convicted in Concerning Case". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  29. ^ Laqui, Ian. "'Dangerous precedent': Activists decry guilty verdict against Castro, Ocampo". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  30. ^ "France Castro of the Philippines set to receive Arthur Svensson Prize 2019". ITUC CSI IGB. April 29, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2022.