Claire Castro: No blind loyalty, only truth in defending Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said she will defend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as long as she believes he is doing what is right, stressing that her loyalty is based on truth rather than blind allegiance.

In an interview with television host Boy Abunda on Saturday, June 13, Castro said she would not hesitate to point out mistakes to Marcos if she believed his decision or action was wrong.

“As long as we will be telling the truth [I will defend him and his actions],” Castro said.

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“I cannot defend something if we are hiding something wrong. So as long as I know that what the president is doing is right, I will defend him,” she added.

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Asked whether she would continue to stand by the president if she knew he was no longer doing the right thing, Castro said she would point it out.

“I will tell him, ‘That’s not correct. That’s wrong. Let’s take action on that,’” she said.

Castro also said she has a working relationship with Marcos that allows her to offer advice and suggestions when necessary.

When asked whether Marcos reacts negatively when she offers criticism despite being his de facto spokesperson, Castro said the president values honest feedback.

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“What the president needs is not people who simply flatter him. He needs people who will provide him with the correct information,” she added.

Castro cited an instance when she advised Marcos to “carefully review” an enrolled bill involving the naturalization of a foreign national.

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“Almost all lawmakers approved it. But I felt that the situation might not turn out well,” she said.

According to Castro, Marcos followed her recommendation and eventually vetoed the measure.

Months later, the individual seeking naturalization was accused of kidnapping.

“So the president listens,” Castro said.

Castro did not identify the foreign national, but her description fits the vetoed naturalization of Chinese national Li Duan Wang, also known as Mark Ong, a businessman who was allegedly linked to a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo).

Wang’s naturalization bid started in 2023 at the House of Representatives, where the bill passed on third reading with the approval of 211 lawmakers.

It was then endorsed to the Senate in 2025, where it was supported by every senator, except Senator Risa Hontiveros, who questioned Wang’s alleged ties to illegal Pogos, multiple taxpayer identification numbers, and reported links to the Chinese Communist Party.

In April 2025, Marcos vetoed the legislative naturalization of Wang, citing “the alarming and revealing warnings raised by our relevant national agencies that find the subject grantee’s character and influence to be full of ominous and dire consequences, if not of a clear and present danger.”

READ: Marcos vetoes naturalization of Pogo-linked Li Duan Wang

“We will not grant Philippine citizenship to individuals with questionable interests or those so-called grantees,” Castro had said.

A month after, Wang’s name was dragged into the kidnapping and murder of Chinese businessman Anson Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo, whose bodies were found on April 9, 2025 in Rodriguez, Rizal.

According to police, two casino junket operations—9 Dynasty Group and White Horse Club— were used to deposit the ransom money paid by the family of Que. The funds were transferred from one e-wallet account to another before being converted into cryptocurrency. Hontiveros alleged that Wang was a  “junket operator” of 9 Dynasty Group.

READ: PCO’s Gomez on keeping Claire Castro: ‘She’s doing a fine job!’

A lawyer by profession, the 56-year-old Castro was appointed to the Presidential Communications Office in February 2025, along with former PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz.

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Castro was the first to be retained by incumbent PCO Secretary Dave Gomez when he was appointed in July. He said Castro was doing a “fine job” as Palace press officer and PCO undersecretary. /mcm