Press Undersecretary Claire Castro fired back at Senator Imee Marcos on Tuesday, June 30, after the senator delivered a speech at the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally along EDSA, accusing her of spreading baseless claims and inciting anger against the government of her own brother, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
In a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, July 1, Castro described the senator’s remarks as an attempt to stoke public outrage, saying the statements were not only false but deliberately designed to mislead those who listened.
“Namutawi kay Senator Imee Marcos ang mga salitang magpapaigting ng galit sa gobyerno, ang paninira sa Pangulo at sa gobyernong ito,” Castro said.
Castro questioned why the senator, who served as Ilocos Norte governor in 2016 and became a senator in 2019, remained silent during the Duterte administration, but is now vocal in her attacks against the current administration of her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..
“Napakasigasig ni Senator Imee Marcos na manira sa gobyerno, samantalang nung panahon ni dating Pangulong Duterte siya ay nanahimik, at ngayon lamang siya nag-iingay habang ang kanyang kapatid, si Pangulong Marcos Jr., ay masigasig na mapanagot ang dapat na mapanagot,” the press undersecretary said.
Castro also said Senator Imee’s claim that the government is not helping farmers and fisherfolk is contradicted by recent government actions, citing livelihood grants given to 186 Pangasinan fisherfolk on June 30, food assistance reaching 703 Camiguin farmers and fisherfolk on June 12, and the President’s directive to ensure a steady supply of fertilizers for farmers amid the global oil crisis.
When asked if the President has been made aware of his sister’s remarks, Castro said the President is updated on developments around him, describing the her response as the administration’s official position against the spread of fake news.
When pressed on whether Senator Imee could be held accountable for her statements, Castro said what the senator did goes beyond spreading fake news, calling it an act of inciting hatred—and that any investigation would be the responsibility of the relevant authorities, not the President.
“Hindi lang ito pagkakalat ng fake news. Paghahasik nga ng poot sa ating mga kababayan. At ano ba ang nais nilang mangyari? Doon pa naman niya nais umalis sa posisyon ang Pangulo para for what? Para iluklok ang kanyang kaibigan, ang Bise Presidente? Hindi lang ito simpleng paninira. Hindi ito simpleng pagbibigay at pagkakalat ng fake news; paghahasik ito ng poot,” Castro said.
“Hindi mag-uutos ang Pangulo na imbestigahan ang kanyang kapatid. Nasa authority na yan. Kung kinakailangang imbestigahan si Senator Imee Marcos, hindi po tayo mag-uutos. Obligasyon po nila mag-imbestiga,” she added.
