Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro declared Friday that she would not be intimidated by the libel complaint filed against her by Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, raising doubts over who stands to gain from the case.
Castro said she has yet to receive a copy of the complaint and was responding only to Leviste’s public remarks.
“I have not yet received the copy of the complaint filed by Congressman Leviste. Pero ang response ko sa ngayon ay ayon lamang muna sa kanyang interview,” she stated.
She pointed to what she described as a glaring inconsistency, noting that Leviste himself admitted Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla was the source of the claim regarding the alleged sale of a company with a government franchise, yet chose not to pursue charges against him.
“Inamin ni Cong. Leviste… na ang source ng di umano’y pagbebenta ng company na may franchise ay galing kay Ombudsman Remulla. Pero hindi niya sasampahan ng kaso ang Ombudsman dahil sa ginagalang niya ito at kaibigan ng nanay niya,” Castro said.
She questioned why she was singled out instead.
“Kakasuhan ba niya ako dahil sa hindi ako kaibigan ng nanay niya at hindi niya ako ginagalang?” she asked, adding: “Can we say that the statements of the Ombudsman are with basis and not maligning while my statements sourced from the Ombudsman are nothing but libelous?”
Castro further noted that Leviste had already admitted he was no longer the owner of Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation, the company holding a congressional franchise.
“He, himself, is the source,” she stressed.
She argued that the libel case was meant to silence her.
“Ang pagsasampa ng kasong ito ang tunay na paraan para ako ay matigil sa aking pagsasalita at pagtalakay sa mga issue,” Castro said.
“Sino ang tunay na nasa likod ng pagsasampa ng kaso laban sa akin? Sino ang nais na mabusalan ang aking bibig? Sino ang lubos na makikinabang dito?” she added.
Leviste filed the complaint before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Balayan, Batangas, accusing Castro of making defamatory statements about the alleged sale of a company with a government franchise—an allegation he has denied.
The lawmaker clarified that he had divested his shares in SP New Energy Corporation (SPNEC) prior to assuming office in the 20th Congress, stressing that SPNEC was distinct from Solar Para sa Bayan, which holds a 25-year franchise granted by Congress in 2019.