By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

At the Palace press briefing held this Wednesday, July 2, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro responded to media queries on timely issues.

Chief among them is the sanction imposed by China against former Senator Francis Tolentino on account of his sentiments about the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue. 

When quizzed by reporters about the East Asian nation’s ban on Tolentino, Castro deferred the question to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). However, she reiterated that China cannot silence the sentiment of Filipinos that favor the Philippines’ stand on the WPS debacle.

She declared, echoing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s sentiment on this issue, “Ang bawat Pilipino, ang ‘tunay’ na Pilipino, at ang mga Pilipino na pro-Philippines, hindi nila ito mapapatahimik at hindi nila mapagbabawalan na ipagtanggol kung anuman ang karapatan natin sa ating bansa at sa ating maritime rights. Ang sabi nga ng Pangulo, ‘We will not yield even an inch of our territory to a foreign power.’”

On former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque’s statement

Meanwhile, Castro pushed back against Harry Roque’s statement about being separated from his children and being ‘forced’ to leave the country, which culminated in a tirade against the Marcos Jr. administration.

She said, “Unang-una po, mukhang isinisisi pa po niya ang naging kalagayan niya at ang kinahinatnan niya kay Pangulo at sa administrasyon. [Ang] tanong: Ano po ba ang kanyang pruweba? Kuwentong walang kuwenta; kuwentong barbero.”

The Palace press briefer lamented Roque’s remarks, citing the President’s non-participation in the latter’s involvement in illegal gambling through Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga raided by authorities in 2024.

Castro declared, “Lahat ng ito ay wala ang Pangulo sa kanyang tabi. So, paano niyang isisisi ito sa Pangulo at sa administrasyon? So, sa mga ganitong klaseng obstructionist, sana po ay ihinto nila at maging tunay na Pilipino.”

Ongoing probe for the ‘missing sabungeros’

At the same briefing, the Palace press briefer has also relayed updates regarding the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) ongoing investigation into the case of the ‘missing sabungeros’, on the heels of a tip from whistleblower “Alyas Totoy.”

Castro said, “Ayon sa Department of Justice (DOJ), mayroon pong apat na witnesses na maaaring tumulong, pero kailangan pa nilang i-evaluate ang mga testimony nila para malaman kung sino iyong puwedeng maging state witness.” 

She added, “At kailangan po talaga nila, maliban sa testimonya, ay magkaroon po ng ibang mga ebidensya tulad ng mga larawan/pictures, videos, kung mayroon man, para mas makatulong po sa pagresolba ng kasong ito.”

The Palace press briefer also reiterated the Chief Executive’s directive on the case, which is to continue the in-depth investigation to unravel the truth and hold the perpetrators accountable.

Moreover, she defended the integrity of the Supreme Court by quashing unfounded claims about possible ‘legal interference’ in the case of the ‘missing sabungeros.’

Castro declared, “Naniniwala po tayo sa integridad ng ating korte, at ito ay masosolusyunan na naaayon sa batas at naaayon sa rule of law.”

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