Castro decries suspension of Facebook account for 'impersonation'

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro decried Tuesday the suspension of her Facebook account under the name Teacher France Castro for impersonation, saying such suspension is baseless and oppressive.

“Biro n'yo po, Mr. Chair, ‘yung aking Facebook account, sinuspend ako ng 180 days ng Meta [na parent company ng Facebook] dahil dito sa impersonation. Wala naman akong ini-impersonate. And I am not pretending na ibang tao, kasi everyday experience ko lang iyong naroon,” Castro said during the House probe into the proliferation of disinformation online.

(Imagine, Mr. Chair, my Facebook account was suspended for 180 days by Meta due to impersonation. I have never impersonated anybody. And I am not pretending to be somebody else, because my Facebook account is just about my everyday experience.)

According to Castro's office, they asked Meta for an explanation but have yet to receive a feedback on the matter.

Representatives of Meta were invited to Tuesday’s probe, but the company did not send representatives.

Castro then said that Meta should not get away with such an arbitrary decision to suspend her account.

“They should be able to explain the reason why they suspended my account for 180 days. Kalahating taon, suspended ako dahil sa impersonation. So, gusto ko silang magpaliwanag kasi wala namang due process eh. Hindi nila ako binigyan ng rason bakit nila sinuspend ‘yung aking account,” Castro added.

(My account was suspended for half a year due to impersonation. So I want them to explain because there is no due process. They did not give me a reason as to why my account was suspended.)

JUST IN: The Facebook page of Teacher France Castro has been suspended for 180 days by Meta, citing alleged "impersonation."

This suspension comes amid the successful impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte—a move that Rep. Castro has been at the forefront of. pic.twitter.com/Knav46Zwfe

— Teacher France (@FranceCastroACT) February 17, 2025

Antipolo Representative Romeo Acop, who is one of the chairpersons of the House panel conducting the probe, then assured Castro that the House panel will again reach out to Meta representatives for their attendance.

In a separate statement, ACT Teachers party-list also condemned Meta for censoring Castro’s Facebook page.

“We condemn this blatant act of repression and demand the immediate restoration of Teacher France Castro's page. This suspension is a clear attack on freedom of expression and an attempt to undermine the people's right to hold those in power accountable,” ACT Teachers party-list said.

It also said that this suspension comes amid the successful impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, a move which Castro is highly supportive of.

Since then, Castro’s Facebook page was flooded with troll accounts and baseless reports that appear to be an effort to silence a prominent progressive voice, the party-list said.

“The public must remain vigilant against these tactics and stand in solidarity with all progressive voices fighting for justice and democracy,” it added. —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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