Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro denounced the alleged harassment she experienced in Vancouver amid the official visit of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to Canada.
Speaking to reporters after the incident, Castro recalled that she was approached by a group of Filipinos as she and a colleague were shooting social media reels.
“So, ngumiti ako then tinanong niya ako kung ako si Usec. Claire. Sabi ko, ‘Yes,’ at doon sinasabi na niya, sumigaw na siya, ‘You ask your President to resign'” Castro said.
(So, I smiled, and then he asked me if I was Usec. Claire. I said, “Yes,” and that was when he started shouting, “You ask your president to resign.”)
“So, kinuyog na kami samantalang kung tutuusin, kami nagtatrabaho. Hindi kami nagbabakasyon dito, we’re just doing our job,” she added.
(We were then harassed, when in reality, we were there to work—we weren’t on vacation. We were just doing our job.)
In a social media video that has been shared across different accounts, Castro is seen walking with Presidential Communications Office Director Robertzon Ramirez when a bullhorn-toting group started shouting and heckling her in Filipino.
Members of the group could be seen following Castro and Ramirez, who were flanked by police officers.
Castro said she does not know if the group has any affiliation, but noted that their narratives and calls include “BBM resign (Bongbong Marcos resign),” “maleta,” and “magnanakaw (thief).”
She added that although people have freedom of expression, rudeness is unwarranted.
“Alam ninyo, may freedom of expression tayo pero hindi naman kailangan maging bastos. Pilipino kayo, hindi naman ganyan ang ugali ng mga Pilipino e,” Castro said.
(You know, we have freedom of expression, but there is no need to be rude. You are Filipinos, and that is not how Filipinos behave.)
Asked if she felt threatened by the experience, Castro replied: “Threatened? Siguro in a way kasi dalawa lang kami, ‘di ko alam kung mananakit sila or what.”
(Threatened? Perhaps in a way, because there were only two of us. I didn’t know if they were going to hurt us or what.)
“Kasi parang, siguro ‘yung grupo naman nila kung sino ‘yung iniidolo nila parang sanay naman sa bayolente, pagiging bayolente, so di namin alam,” she added.
(Perhaps their group and whoever it is they idolize are used to violence, so we just didn’t know.)
Castro emphasized that such actions are not how Filipinos behave, adding that the country cannot progress if its people harbor such attitudes.
“So kawawa pa rin kayo (So you are still the ones who end up pitiful),” she added.
According to GMA News’ Ivan Mayrina, Marcos and the Philippine delegation were met with cheers and jeers by protesters at the venue of the Filipino community gathering in Canada.
One group was chanting calls for accountability amid the flood control corruption scandal in the Philippines, while a smaller group was chanting “BBM” while flashing the “V” sign, Mayrina reported.
Marcos and members of his Philippine delegation, including Castro, arrived in Vancouver, Canada on Thursday.
The Philippine president and his Canadian counterpart, Prime Minister Mark Carney, have had a one-on-one meeting, aside from and bilateral talks between the two delegations.
Agreements signed by the two sides include those related to energy, tourism, labor, and migration.
In November 2025, Canada and the Philippines signed a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), which provides the legal basis for the militaries of the two nations to conduct joint exercises.
Meanwhile, Marcos also met with members of the Filipino community in Canada, whose population has now reached nearly one million. — VDV, GMA News
