SAGIP Party-list Rep. Paolo Marcoleta says Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro is always on the defensive.

This, as Marcoleta shared his unfiltered view of the PCO's performance on Tuesday night, Aug. 26 during the agency's budget hearing with the House Committee on Appropriations.

After criticizing the PCO, the neophyte congressman said he expected Malacañang's communications arm to launch an online attack with him as the subject.

"Hindi po ba mas madaling depensahan ang administrasyon kung ito ay maraming mga notable achievements? Mas madaling...labanan yung mga kritiko ng gobyerno (Isn't it easier to defend the administration if it has many notable achievements? It's easier...to counter the government's critics)," Marcoleta said in his interpellation of PCO Secretary Dave Gomez.

"Kasi ang nakikita ko po...napansin ko rin kasi si Usec Claire Castro, pag siya po nagsasalita, lagi siyang on the defensive tone (Because fro, what I see...I also noticed that Usec Claire Castro, when she speaks, she always has a defensive tone)," he noted.

Marcoleta went on to lecture the PCO on how to do its job.

"Rather than showcasing the landmark achievements of this administration, the PCO is reduced to just defending the administration from the harsh critics. Hindi po ba mas magandang--kung gagawa tayo ng maganda para sa ating bansa? (Wouldn't it be better—if we’re doing something good for our country?)" reckoned the SAGIP solon.

"Tulad ng sinabi niyo, Secretary Dave, mas magiging organic ang mga taong dedepensa sa ating Pangulo at sa ating pamahalaan kung gagalingan natin ang ating pangganap ng ating tungkulin sa ating gobyerno," he said.

(Like what you said, Secretary Dave, the people who defend our President and our government will do so more organically if we perform our duties in government excellently.)

With Gomez and the other PCO officials right in front of him, Marcoleta continued: "Sana naman po bukas or mamaya wala akong matanggap na PCO-sponsored attack dahil inaasahan ko na to (I hope that by tomorrow or later today, I won’t receive any PCO-sponsored attack because I’m already expecting it.)"

"Kaya lang, mag-ingat lang po ang mga kinauukulan dahil baka kayo ay liable din sa cyberlibel. So pag-aralan niyo rin po (However, those concerned should be careful, because you might also be liable for cyberlibel. So please study it as well,” he said in a mildly sarcastic tone.

Castro didnt attend the budget hearing. Marcoleta is the son of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, a Marcos administration critic.