MANILA — Palace Press Officer Claire Castro denied that she was the woman heard in a leaked voice recording presented by Sen. Robin Padilla, who claimed the clip linked her to paid vloggers.

“For the satisfaction of Senator Robin Padilla: Hindi po ako ang nasa video clip… itong video na ito ay lumabas na noon pa at ibang mukha ang ipinapakitang binabanggit na ‘madam’,” Castro said during a Palace press briefing. She added that mainstream media did not pick up the video because its source was unclear.

“Hindi nga po ito kinober ng mainstream media… ayaw nilang maging lehitimong balita ito nang hindi naman nila alam ang source… I deny that the person or kung sinuman sa dalawa doon… I was talking to a certain vlogger,” she said.

Padilla presented the alleged voice clip in the Senate on Tuesday, suggesting it implicated Castro in dealings with vloggers.

Castro questioned why Padilla—who has been pushing for an anti-troll farm bill—failed to verify the source of the recording.

“Si Senator Robin ay nagpapanukala ng anti-troll farm bill… Maganda ang kaniyang adhikain…” she said, adding: “Sana maging modelo rin po si Senator Robin, modelo na hindi magpapagamit o magpapabiktima sa troll farm na nagpapakalat ng fake news.”

Asked whether she planned to take legal action, Castro said the origin of the audio clip remained unknown and suggested that Padilla clarify his source. (PNA)