Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during the Malacanang press briefing on July 16, 2026. Screen grab from RTVM livestream/Facebook.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Friday rejected Vice President Sara Duterte’s call for her to be more professional, arguing that professionalism should be measured by conduct rather than words.
Castro said a professional leader should remain in the country during calamities, comply with the law and answer allegations directly instead of avoiding them.
She also criticized Duterte’s trips abroad during periods of severe weather and accused her of failing to adequately address controversies raised against her.
Castro said her role as Palace spokesperson was to explain the administration’s programs and respond to what she described as false or baseless claims against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his government.
She maintained that presenting evidence in response to criticism was part of her mandate and argued that personal attacks surfaced when her statements could not be rebutted.
The exchange followed Duterte’s remarks in Davao City, where she criticized Castro’s tone and reminded her that she speaks on behalf of the Office of the President.
Duterte said Castro did not have the same freedom as private individuals or elected officials to express personal opinions because she represented the presidency.
She added that carrying the seal of the Office of the President required a higher standard of professionalism in public statements.
The latest exchange deepened the public feud between the Vice President and Malacañang as both camps continued trading criticisms over Duterte’s statements and the Palace’s responses.