The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has begun looking into the reported harassment of Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s official visit to Canada last week.
DFA spokesperson Analyn Ratonel said on Wednesday that Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro has instructed the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver to coordinate with Canadian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
According to the DFA, the inquiry aims at “determining the specifics of the incident as well as the applicable laws and security protocols covering visiting foreign dignitaries.”
The investigation comes after videos circulated on social media showing a group of Filipino protesters allegedly following Castro and shouting at her while she was in Vancouver.
Despite the incident, Castro said she will not file any legal complaint, explaining that she respects the protesters’ right to express their views.
Although she admitted she was caught off guard by their actions, she chose not to pursue the matter and instead move forward.