Claire Castro denies links to France Castro, flags 'fake news' from VP Duterte

Metro Manila, Philippines - Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro refuted Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that she is related to ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, calling the remark “fake news” and expressing concern over misinformation from the country’s second-highest official.

Duterte made the comment during an interview in Negros Occidental, where she said she was also a victim of disinformation, particularly from France Castro, and went on to link the lawmaker to the palace official by surname.

“Lahat naman tayo biktima ng fake news. Kayo, lahat biktima rin kayo. Alam niyo, kasi may experience ako sa Castro na apelyido 'yun. Si France Castro, wala talagang maayos na lumabas doon sa bibig ng babae na 'yun. Siguro itong pinsan niya na si Claire Castro, kaya ganyan din siguro. Magaling lang sila sa isang puno,” Duterte said.

[Translation: We’re all victims of fake news. You’re all victims too. I had an experience with someone surnamed Castro. France Castro—nothing good ever comes out of that woman’s mouth. Maybe her cousin Claire Castro is like that too. Maybe they come from the same tree.]

In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, Claire Castro categorically denied familial relationships with the lawmaker and criticized Duterte for spreading disinformation.

“'Yun pa lang, sa unang salita pa lang ni Vice Presidente, fake news na siya. Hindi ko po pinsan, wala po akong relasyon kay Congresswoman France Castro,” said Castro.

[Translation: From the very first thing the Vice President said it was already fake news. She’s not my cousin. I have no relation to Congresswoman France Castro.]

Castro warned of implications of false claims from someone in high office.

“So kung siya mismo ang nagpapalabas nito galing sa bibig ng isang Vice Presidente ang maling impormasyon na ako ay pinsan ni Congresswoman France Castro, hindi ba nakaka-alarma 'yun? Dahil Vice President siya,” she added.

[Translation: If she herself is spreading this coming from the mouth of a Vice President the false information that I am France Castro’s cousin, isn’t that alarming? Because she’s the vice president.]

She said the vice president’s statement was entirely false.

“With that statement that she made - na ako ay cousin at magkadugo kami - una-una, nasaan 'yung pruweba niya? Ako na po ang nagsasabi: wala kaming relasyon ni Congresswoman France Castro. Pareho lang po kami ng spelling ng apelyido.”

[Translation: That statement she made that we’re cousins, that we’re blood-related - first of all, where’s her proof? I’m telling you: I have no relation to Congresswoman France Castro. We just happen to share the same surname spelling.]

In a separate statement, France Castro denied any relationship with the palace official and hit back at Duterte’s remarks.

“On the contrary, mukhang sa bibig ni VP Duterte ang walang lumalabas na mabuti kundi pagsisinungaling, pagtatago sa katotohanan, mga mura, red-tagging, at fake news,” the lawmaker said.

[Translation: On the contrary, it seems that nothing good comes out of VP Duterte’s mouth - only lies, cover-ups, curses, red-tagging, and fake news.]

“Ni hindi ko nga kamag-anak si Atty. Claire Castro. At hanggang ngayon nga, ni hindi masagot ni VP Duterte nang maayos kung saan at paano niya ginastos ang P125 million confidential funds noong December 2022.”

[Translation: Atty. Claire Castro isn’t even my relative. And to this day, VP Duterte still can’t clearly explain where and how she spent the P125 million in confidential funds back in December 2022.]

The confidential fund issue is in the list of complaints in the articles of impeachment against the vice president transmitted by the House of Representatives to the Senate.