France Castro

Francisca Lustina Castro (born May 24, 1966) is a Filipino educator, trade union activist, and politician who has served as a member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines for the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).

Early life and education
Castro’s father was a driver and her mother was a housewife. Castro and her four siblings all graduated from public schools.

Castro took BSE 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. Castro is the former secretary general of the ACT.

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.

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

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

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.

Political positions
Castro supported the franchise renewal for broadcast company ABS-CBN in 2020.

Criminal charges
On November 28, 2018, Satur Ocampo, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Castro and over 70 others were arrested on allegations of 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. 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 other convicts to an indeterminate penalty of 4 years to 6 years imprisonment, including P10,000 as civil indemnity and P10,000 as moral damages. 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.

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