Senate President Tito Sotto cautioned Senator Robin Padilla to be careful in publicly naming individuals in connection with an issue unless he is certain of the information he presents.
The reminder came after Padilla played an audio recording during the deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Tuesday.
In the clip, two people can be heard discussing the alleged use of trolls.
“Humihingi ka na naman ng dagdag, puro palpak naman ‘yang mga blogger mo,” one voice said. The other replied,
“Pasensiya na madam, ginagawa naman po namin lahat ‘yung mga script na fino-forward sa amin eh. Sinunod naman po namin.”
Padilla claimed the voice recording was sent to him and identified it as coming from PCO Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.
At this point, Sotto intervened and offered a cautionary reminder.
“Instead of ah, naming somebody that we’re not sure of, why don’t we, you send it to the NBI for a voice print… Imbes na nanghuhula tayo, nagbabanggit tayo ng pangalan, we are mentioning the name of Usec. or Atty. Castro. It’s unfair for her,” he said. Senator Loren Legarda, sponsor of the PCO’s 2026 budget, supported Sotto’s suggestion.
Castro has yet to respond to Padilla’s allegation.