Castro denies alleged voice recording with vlogger

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro (Philippine News Agency/facebook)

MANILA – Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Wednesday denied being the person in a leaked voice recording allegedly talking to a vlogger.

This came after Sen. Robin Padilla on Tuesday presented in the Senate an alleged voice clip linking Castro to paid vloggers.

“For the satisfaction of Senator Robin Padilla: Hindi po ako ang nasa video clip. Dahil sa aking pagkakaalam, itong video na ito ay lumabas na noon pa at ibang mukha ang ipinapakitang binabanggit na ‘madam’ (I am not the person in the video clip. To my knowledge, this video has been circulating for some time, and the face shown is not mine, contrary to what the ‘madam’ mentioned),” Castro said in a Palace press briefing in response to Padilla’s claim.

“Hindi nga po ito kinober ng mainstream media dahil lumalabas, ayaw nilang maging lehitimong balita ito nang hindi naman nila alam ang source (It was not covered by mainstream media because, once it surfaced, they did not want it to be treated as legitimate news without knowing the source). So, I deny that the person or kung sinuman sa dalawa doon na (or anyone else in the video that) I was talking to a certain vlogger,” she added.

Castro also lamented that Padilla, who has been pushing for the passage of an anti-troll farm bill, fails to verify the sources of the voice recording.

When asked if she would take legal action, Castro said the origin of the clip remains unknown and suggested Padilla clarify his source.

“Si Senator Robin ay nagpapanukala ng anti-troll farm bill. Maganda ang kaniyang adhikain, maganda ang kaniyang pinapanukalang batas – troll farm for fake news (Sen. Robin is proposing an anti-troll farm bill. His goal is good, and the law he is proposing— troll farm for fake news — is commendable),” Castro said.

“Sana maging modelo rin po si Senator Robin, modelo na hindi magpapagamit o magpapabiktima sa troll farm na nagpapakalat ng fake news (I hope Sen. Robin also sets an example by not allowing himself to be used or victimized by troll farms spreading fake news).”