Palace press exec after Duterte said she’s kin to Rep. Castro: ‘Fake news’

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro (Screengrab from RTVM/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — “The source of fake news is repetitious. It’s unlimited.”

This was how Palace Press Officer Claire Castro described Vice President Sara Duterte, who once again said that she [Castro] and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro are related to one another.

At a briefing on Monday, the Palace press officer was asked for a reaction to Duterte’s reiteration that she and Rep. Castro, who happened to share the same surname with the press official, are related by blood.

“That’s what’s sad because the vice president herself is becoming a recurring source of fake news. Unlimited,” she responded.

“So, it’s saddening that the vice president does not understand what we are saying,” she noted.

“As a result, she has become a source of fake news or disinformation, and this is not good for her as the second highest official in the country,” she added.

READ: Dela Rosa ridiculed over AI video on Sara Duterte impeachment

The vice president made the remarks on June 14, in reaction to Castro’s statement that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not part of a deal between a user and a person willing to be used.

READ: Marcos not part of deal between ‘a user and a person willing to be used’

This was regarding Duterte’s remarks that Sen. Imee Marcos would supposedly remain a “hostage” until she brings former President Rodrigo Duterte back to the Philippines.

“Is this Claire Castro again? Didn’t I already tell you that Claire Castro is a cousin of France Castro?” Duterte told reporters.

“Like I said, right? What did I say? Garbage in, garbage out—when it comes to those two Castros,” the vice president said. /apl