Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro said she experienced what she described as “harassment” from a group of Filipinos during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Canada.
In an interview with reporters, Castro said she and PCO Director Robertzon Ramirez were creating social media content in Vancouver when a group of Filipinos approached them. One initially asked if she was Usec. Castro.
“I smiled, then he asked me if I was Usec. Claire. I said, ‘Yes,’ and then he started shouting, ‘You ask your President to resign,’” Castro said.
“We were ganged up on, even though we were working. We are not on vacation here; we’re just doing our job,” she added.
A social media video showed the group approaching Castro and voicing their message.
Castro condemns group’s behavior
Castro condemned the group’s actions, calling them “not very Filipino” and stressing that freedom of expression does not give anyone the right to be rude.
“You know, we have freedom of expression, but there’s no need to be rude. You are Filipinos; that is not the attitude of Filipinos,” she said.
“Perhaps the group, whoever they idolize, is used to violence, being violent, so we don’t know,” she added.
