Protest or Bullying? The Confrontation of Usec. Claire Castro in Canada. #attybuenoexplains

On July 3, 2026, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was heckled and confronted by a group of Filipino protesters in Vancouver, Canada, during the official state visit of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (PBBM). Context of the Incident. The Setup: Usec. Castro and PCO Director Robertzon Ramirez were on-site in Vancouver filming social media content and reels to update the public on the President’s diplomatic engagements. The Confrontation: A Filipino protester approached Castro, confirmed her identity, and immediately began shouting into a megaphone, demanding: "You ask your President to resign." The interruption forced the team to stop recording as a larger group of protesters quickly swarmed and followed them. Verbal Abuse and Accusations. Viral videos of the incident captured the group tailing Castro and hurling personal insults and political corruption accusations, which included:Personal Heckling: Protesters repeatedly called Castro "pangit" (ugly), "sinungaling" (liar), and mocked her as a "crybaby" when she walked away. Corrupt Allegations: Individuals yelled, "Shame on you, Ante Kler!" and accused her of being part of a "maleta gang" that allegedly pocketed millions of pesos. Anti-Marcos Chants: Using bullhorns, the demonstrators chanted slogans such as "BBM resign" and "magnanakaw" (thief), while bringing up placards protesting a flood control project scandal in the Philippines. Response and Aftermath. Safety Concerns: Castro later admitted to reporters that she felt unsafe and physically threatened during the encounter. Because she and Ramirez were outnumbered, she stated they were deeply uneasy and unsure if the crowd would turn violent. Police Assistance: Castro and her companion had to seek the assistance of local Vancouver police officers, who escorted them through the crowd so they could safely board a vehicle. Call for Civility: Following the incident, Castro denounced the harassment, reminding the public that while freedom of expression is protected, it should not cross into outright rudeness. She stated, "May freedom of expression tayo pero hindi naman kailangang maging bastos. Pilipino kayo, hindi naman ganyan ang ugali ng mga Pilipino eh" ("We have freedom of expression, but there is no need to be rude. You are Filipinos, and that is not how Filipinos behave").