Palace Press Officer Claire Castro challenged Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to prove his claim that she was instructed to issue a statement about his role in the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
Castro urged Magalong to “stop the guessing game” and avoid intrigue regarding her work, emphasizing that his allegation lacks evidence.
She clarified that Magalong’s decision to resign from the ICI was his own and not influenced by her or Malacañang. Castro added that all statements made during the September 26 press briefing—including the review by the legal team on possible conflict of interest between Magalong’s duties as mayor and ICI member—were made under the President’s directive.
Magalong earlier claimed that Castro was the reason for his resignation after the Palace clarified that his position in the ICI was only as a “special adviser,” not as an investigator.
Castro said Magalong merely “presumed” her role as an investigator during an interview, contrary to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s official statement on September 15, which outlined the specific duties of ICI members.
She maintained that her actions followed the President’s instructions and not any political motivation.
