‘She is a treasure’: Claire Castro to keep Palace post under Cayetano’s PCO

MANILA — Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro will remain in her post under the leadership of Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Lino Cayetano, who described the Palace press officer as a “treasure in this government.”

Cayetano confirmed his decision on Friday as the PCO reviews the courtesy resignations of its officials following the departure of his predecessor, former Communications Secretary Dave Gomez.

“Yes. Usec. Claire is a treasure in this government,” Cayetano said when asked if he intended to retain Castro.

“I haven’t seen someone who can articulate so well what this government [does]. We will work closely together so we can help translate a lot of the issues, a lot of the programs, a lot of the policies of this government,” he said.

Cayetano said he was not keen on changing Castro’s combative approach to defending the administration against its critics, but stressed the need to focus more on explaining government programs and policies to the public.

“What we want to focus on is pushing forward the programs and policies of this administration and paano siya nakakatulong sa mga kababayan natin,” Cayetano said.

“We just have to be a little bit more focused on the things we want to talk about pero in terms of being combative, of protecting what this administration is doing to be able to explain to the Filipino people bakit natin ginagawa ‘yung ilang mga bagay, hanga ako kay Usec. Claire,” he said.

Cayetano added that Castro could hold her own against critics, but said the Palace press briefings should also provide Filipinos with more information about the administration’s decisions and policies.

“I think kaya makipagsabayan ni Usec. Claire with anyone, but I think what we should be able to provide with Usec. Claire and that podium for the MPC ay mas marami pang impormasyon para maramdaman ng sambayanang Pilipino kung bakit natin binabago o binabangga ‘yung ibang polisiya or burukrasiya para mapabilis ‘yung biyaya sa sambayanang Pilipino,” Cayetano said. 

Cayetano, a television and film director-turned-politician, also said the PCO hopes to establish more “analog offices” across the country to serve as hubs and workspaces for both government and private media.

The proposed offices are part of the agency’s efforts to support media operations beyond Metro Manila.