Castro: I won't defend PBBM if he's wrong
At A Glance
- Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said she would only defend President Marcos as long as she is telling the truth and believes he is doing the right thing.
- Castro said she has advised the President when she thinks something is wrong and can freely offer suggestions without negative reactions from him.
- She cited Marcos' veto of the naturalization bill of Chinese businessman Li Duan Wang, who was later accused in a kidnapping case.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said she is willing to defend President Marcos only as long as the Chief Executive is telling the truth and is doing what is right.
Speaking in an interview with television host Boy Abunda on his YouTube channel, Castro said she would not defend wrongdoing or conceal mistakes.
“As long as we will be telling the truth. Hindi naman ako pwede magtanggol kung may ililihim tayo na mali (I cannot defend someone if we are hiding something wrong),” she said.
“So, as long na alam ko ang ginagawa ng Pangulo ay tama, ipagtatanggol ko (So, as long as I know that what the President is doing is right, I will defend him),” she added.
‘I will tell him’
Asked hypothetically whether she would still stand by the President if she knew something he did was wrong, Castro said she would tell him directly.
“I will tell him. That's not correct. That's wrong. Let's make an action on that,” she said.
When asked if she has that kind of relationship with the President, Castro answered in the affirmative.
“Nasasabihan ko po ang Pangulo. Nabibigyan ko po siya ng advice. Nasasabihan ko po at nakakapag-suggest po ako (I can tell the President. I can give him advice. I can talk to him and make suggestions),” she said.
The Palace Press Officer added that Marcos welcomes honest advice and does not expect blind loyalty from his officials.
“Kasi ang kailangan po ng Pangulo, hindi lang sipsip. Kailangan po niya ng mga taong magbibigay sa kanya ng tamang impormasyon (Because what the President needs is not just people who flatter him. He needs people who will give him the right information),” she said.
Naturalization bill veto
Castro cited one incident where Marcos vetoed a proposed naturalization bill, saying this illustrates how the President listens to advice and acts on concerns raised by his officials.
“Meron po akong isang example. Meron po isang naturalization na inihain. Halos lahat ng lawmakers ay aprobado. And then alam ko na mukhang medyo hindi magiging maganda yung sitwasyon (I have one example. There was a naturalization measure that had been filed. Almost all lawmakers approved it. Then I felt that the situation might not turn out well),” she said.
“So I told him, 'Sir, kindly review this bill, this application for the naturalization pending before the Congress at isa-submit sa inyo (that will be submitted to you). Just try to study that.' And he did. He vetoed it,” she added.
The Palace official said subsequent events validated the President's decision.
“After three months or two months, that person was accused of kidnapping. So nakikinig po ang Pangulo (So the President listens),” Castro said.
President Marcos vetoed only one naturalization bill so far. In April 2025, Marcos vetoed House Bill No. 8839, which sought to grant Philippine citizenship to Li Duan Wang, citing national security concerns and adverse information from government agencies.
Malacañang and lawmakers opposing the measure had pointed to allegations linking Wang, also known as Mark Ong, to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities, the use of multiple taxpayer identification numbers, and possible ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Months after the veto, Wang was among the individuals accused in connection with the alleged kidnapping and killing of Filipino-Chinese steel magnate Anson Que and his driver, Armanie Pabillo.