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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Impakta?': Castro fires back at Imee Marcos, says 'it takes one to know one'

'Impakta?': Castro fires back at Imee Marcos, says 'it takes one to know one'

Published Jul 29, 2026 03:06 pm

At A Glance

  • Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro Senator Imee Marcos over a social media video that appeared to target Palace Press Officer Claire Castro using the acronym "ICC."
  • Castro said those behind the video were revealing more about themselves than about her, remarking, "It takes one to know one."
  • The exchange came after Imee linked the International Criminal Court's (ICC) recent troubles with the United States to her criticism of the Palace.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro and Senator Imee Marcos (File photos)
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro and Senator Imee Marcos (File photos)

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro fired back at Senator Imee Marcos over a social media video that appeared to mock her, telling the Presidential Sister that the term “Impakta” that she used in her video must also apply to her.

Castro said this after Sen. Marcos posted a video on social media in which she said the International Criminal Court (ICC) was "in trouble" following recent actions by the United States against the tribunal, before suggesting there was also an "ICC" inside Malacañang and implying that the first letter stood for "impakta." The senator did not spell out the full acronym, but the remark was widely interpreted as referring to Castro.

In her press briefing on Wednesday, July 29, Castro declined to repeat the derogatory term used in the video, saying she was not accustomed to attacking people through ad hominem remarks.

When asked about the video's apparent reference to her through the acronym "ICC," Castro said those who came up with the description were the ones who knew its meaning best.

"It takes one to know one,” she said.

“Kaya kung sila ay affected sa aking mga nababanggit dahil tayo ay kumakalaban sa fake news at iyan ang kanilang pananaw isang 'impakta' ang kumalaban sa fake news, sino ngayon ang naglalarawan ng totoong 'impakta' (It takes one to know one. If they are affected by what I have been saying because we are fighting fake news, and they think an 'impakta' is the one fighting fake news, then who is really portraying the true 'impakta')?” she added.

Castro added that she had no intention of taking what she described as Senator Marcos' "crown," saying the senator and her group could keep it because she could not match their level of personal attacks.

"Huwag silang mag-alala; ang korona ay nasa kanila—na kay Senator Imee at sa mga grupo nila at hindi natin kayang agawin ito mula sa kanila (They should not worry because the crown belongs to them—to Senator Imee and her group—and we have no intention of taking it from them),” she said.

Senator Marcos has repeatedly criticized the Palace's handling of issues related to the ICC and has accused the administration of enabling the arrest and transfer of former president Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague, positions she reiterated during and after this week's Kontra-SONA activities.

Marcos' recent video also referred to the Trump administration's campaign against the ICC, after Washington announced measures targeting the tribunal and its officials over investigations involving the United States and its allies.

The Philippine government has maintained that while it has no plans to rejoin the Rome Statute or cooperate directly with the ICC, it continues to recognize its obligations under Interpol, with Malacañang saying last week that US officials understood Manila's position on the issue.

Related Tags

ICC Claire Castro imee marcos impakta
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