Metro Manila, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is looking into a supposed heckling of Palace press officer Claire Castro during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Canada last week.
In a statement, the DFA said Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro has directed the Philippine embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine consulate general in Vancouver to coordinate with Canadian authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs is looking into the incident involving Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro during the visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to Vancouver, B.C., Canada last week,” the department said.
The DFA said Philippine diplomatic posts have been instructed to coordinate with Canadian authorities “in determining the specifics of the incident as well as the applicable laws and security protocols covering visiting foreign dignitaries.”
Castro was confronted by a group of Filipinos while accompanying the presidential delegation. She said she respects the protesters’ right to free speech and does not intend to pursue legal action. She also said she had no intention of publicizing the confrontation but responded only after videos of the incident circulated on social media.
