Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed that she will submit her courtesy resignation, in line with the reorganization of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) under newly appointed acting secretary Dave Gomez.

In a memorandum issued on July 14, Gomez asked all undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, directors, and heads of attached agencies of the PCO to submit their courtesy resignations no later than Friday, July 18.

“Until any action is taken on such courtesy resignations, all undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and directors of the PCO-Central Office and heads and other presidential appointees of attached agencies shall continue to report for work and perform their usual duties and responsibilities subject to any modification that the new leadership of PCO may deem proper to adopt in the meantime,” Gomez said.

Castro said she was one of those filing their resignations, as is customary when a new head takes over an executive agency.

“Opo. Meron po. Kasama po tayo doon (Yes, there will be [resignations]. I am included),” she told True FM on Wednesday, July 16.

She added that she would file her resignation immediately: “Ngayon ho (Today).”

The move allows Secretary Gomez, who took his oath last week, to reorganize his team and appoint staff he feels are best suited to implement the administration’s communication agenda.

“Para mabigyan din po siya ng leeway na makapamili kung sino po ang mga tao na pwede niyang makasama (So he has the leeway to choose the people he wants to work with),” she said.

Asked whether she had been asked by President Marcos or First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to soften her tone in media briefings, Castro replied that she had always been respectful but assertive.

“Malumanay naman po ako. Nagkakataon lang po siguro na may mga pagkakataon na dapat labanan ang fake news (I speak gently. It just happens that sometimes, we need to fight fake news),” she said.

She also denied being told to step back from daily briefings or to “tone down” her delivery.

“Mahirap naman kasi na mag-acting ako (It would be difficult for me to act or pretend),” Castro said.

Castro emphasized that her responsibility as Palace Press Officer was not to please anyone but to present the facts to the public, especially amid disinformation.

“Siguro ang gusto lang naman nila sa akin, kung ano ang totoo. So, kung ano po yung akin at ano yung hawak ko na katotohanan, yun lang po ang ilalaban natin (I think all they expect of me is the truth. Whatever I know and hold to be true, that is what I will stand for),” she said.

Castro added that she was unaware of any specific complaints or calls for her removal, and maintained that her actions had always been guided by service to the Filipino people.

The PCO reshuffle followed the appointment of Gomez who replaced Secretary Jay Ruiz. Gomez has vowed to implement a “3Ps Minus One” strategy—programs and policies without politics—and expand the administration’s digital footprint.

Castro had been a daily fixture in Palace briefings, often fielding questions on sensitive issues including online disinformation, the First Lady, foreign policy, and impeachment proceedings. Her direct, at times hard-hitting responses had drawn both praise and criticism.