MANILA — House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro faces an ethics complaint filed on Tuesday by the Ata-Manobo Tribal Council of Elders and leaders of Talaingod Political Structure.

The complainant stemmed from the Tagum City Regional Trial Court’s ruling last July, convicting Castro and others for violating the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

The judge said the accused committed acts detrimental to the safety and well-being of 14 minor Lumad learners, when they transported them on foot from their school in Talaingod, Davao del Norte last November 2018 for around three hours on a remote, dark, and unsecured road, without the assistance of law enforcers, any government agency and written permission from the minors’ parents.

“Kinakailangan isuspindi at tanggalin sa pwesto si Rep. France Castro kasi nakikita naman natin na convicted na siya Regional Trial Court, even if it is on appeal before higher courts but the administrative aspects of the crime she committed, should be likewise under investigation, and if after proper proceedings it is found that she is administratively guilty then proper penalty such as suspension or if not expulsion from the House of Representatives,” Atty. Israelito Torreon, legal counsel of the complainants, said.

Castro denounced the ethics complaint, calling it a “harassment suit”.

"For the record, the case against me, Ka Satur Ocampo, and our Lumad co-accused is still under appeal. There is no final verdict yet. These fabricated charges are meant to intimidate and harass those who stand in solidarity with oppressed communities. But we are undeterred. We will continue to fight for justice and accountability," the lawmaker said in a statement.

"We know the people behind these harassment suits. They are the same individuals being exposed as gross human rights violators and plunderers of the people's money. Ginagawa nila ito para maghiganti at pagtakpan ang kanilang ginawang kasamaan laban sa mamamayan. Masyado kasing nalantad ang ginawang pagpatay sa ilalim ng pekeng drug war ni Duterte sa Quad Comm, at ang paglustay ng confidential funds ni VP Duterte at ngayon ay may impeachment na siyang kinakaharap, at may International Criminal Court (ICC) naman ang matandang Duterte. Kaya ngayon ay kinakalampag nila ang mga kapwa red-tagger nila sa NTF-ELCAC para harass-in ang mga tulad namin na naglantad sa kanilang kalokohan," she added.