Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro. 

From echoing administration announcements to defending the president from critics, she doesn’t back down from any fight, she is Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro. 

Always dressed in dignity and armed with answers and banters, Castro takes on her role as the mouthpiece of the president quite fittingly. She may be new into the job but Castro, especially at this crucial time in Philippine politics, seems to be delivering the performance. 

Lawyer 

Being the mouthpiece of the president requires quite some qualifications. A seasoned trial lawyer, Castro brings a combination of legal expertise and a media experience making her qualified for the  job. 

A political science degree holder from the University of Santo Tomas, she earned her law degree also from the same institution and further pursued a Master’s in law. 

Apart from her professional legal practice, she also advocated for accessible legal services. During her law school days, she was part of the  UST Free Legal Clinic and later led legal aid initiatives as president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) – Caloocan, Malabon, and Navotas chapter. 

She currently operates her own law firm.

Media work 

Apart from working in the legal profession, Castro is also well aware of the media business and has  in fact hosted a few shows and podcasts. 

Among them was DZMM’s evening program “Usapang de Campanilla” where she served as radio host and legal commentator offering free legal advice. 

In 2020, she launched a YouTube channel focused on legal education. 

In 2023, she incorporated political and legal commentaries through her podcast, “Batas with Atty. Claire Castro.”

Castro took her oath as undersecretary on February 24 alongside former ABS-CBN reporter Jay Ruiz who was appointed Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office.

She recently went viral extending a Happy birthday greeting to embattled former President Rodrigo Duterte who is now detained at the International Criminal Court Detention Centre at The Hague, Netherlands. 

The Dutertes have been in clash with the administration since the House of Representatives’ investigation of the alleged misuse of Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds.