In a baffling turn of events, the ACT Teachers Partylist representative accused of abusing indigenous children in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, in 2018 has chosen to sue a former president for verbal threats.

Rep. France Castro, who had been scrutinizing the confidential funds of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, filed criminal charges against former President Rodrigo R. Duterte before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office yesterday over alleged death threats against her. She claimed the charges, which fall under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, are seen as a serious threat to her personal freedom and safety.

This peculiar lawsuit raises significant concerns about the misplaced priorities and potential attempts to deflect attention from alleged crimes. Such actions undermine the pursuit of justice and demonstrate a concerning lack of accountability.

Castro, former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, and 16 others have been charged with child abuse, kidnapping, and failure to return a minor after they were arrested on 29 November 2018 when their convoy, reportedly part of a so-called National Solidarity Mission, was stopped at a military checkpoint. The convoy was illegally transporting 14 indigenous peoples students of Salugpungan Ta Tanu Community Learning Center without their parents' consent.

An untold story lies within a raw video capturing the confrontation between IP elders and the suspects involved. Despite attempts to delete this video, its preservation serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, the truth and its inherent value cannot be silenced or erased.

Bae Pilar Libayao, 73, Ata-Manobo tribal council leader/Indigenous Peoples mandatory representative in the municipality of Talaingod, Davao del Norte, scolded Castro and Ocampo.

"We, the lumads, hold deep respect for you, but we ask: do you reciprocate that respect towards us? As Datu Guibang wisely stated, please cease exploiting our children. While it is commendable that you visit the remote areas to offer assistance, kindly refrain from taking our children away and labeling them as evacuees (bakwits). There would be no disturbances or disorder if the NGOs refrain from venturing into these areas. Throughout my 73 years residing in the hinterlands, I can attest that there has been no war. You argue that it is for the betterment of our children but look at the current situation. Some lumads are being compelled to perform dances in exchange for support from foreign entities. This implies that our lumads are being exploited and used to gather backing."

With conviction, she expressed her concern about the unfortunate plight of the lumads, who have been reduced to a state resembling beggars. She emphasized the elders' relentless efforts to provide for their children; and criticized certain non-governmental organizations whose actions have only brought chaos, recounting incidents where they approached the lumad children under the cover of darkness, causing distress and disruption.

"When NPAs are killed, they demand human rights. But not for soldiers and lumads. They keep saying that soldiers abuse the lumads; the NPAs are the ones who kill the soldiers," Lidayao said.

Kidnapping indigenous children is an egregious violation of human rights, perpetuating historical injustices and inflicting immense harm on vulnerable communities. Although the kidnapping charges have been dropped, child abuse raps remain. The accusation against the lawmaker demands utmost attention and should be treated with the seriousness it deserves. Any attempts to divert focus from such grave offenses through a lawsuit for verbal threats are deeply troubling.

Lawsuits should serve as mechanisms for justice and redress. However, when legal channels are manipulated for personal or political gain, they undermine the justice system's credibility.

Frivolous lawsuits only serve to impede the pursuit of justice and divert attention from the real issues at hand. The lawsuit filed by a lawmaker accused of abusing indigenous children against a former president for verbal threats is a disturbing display of misplaced priorities and potential attempts to evade accountability.

We ought to remain vigilant and ensure that justice is served for the IP community and that the alleged crimes on that fateful night of 29 November 2018 are thoroughly investigated. Society must demand integrity, transparency, and accountability from its elected officials to uphold the principles of justice and protect the rights of all individuals, especially the most vulnerable, like IPs.