Malacañang Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro Speaks on Rumored Appointment as DOJ Chief
CLAIRE CASTRO – The Palace official spoke on the rumors that she will be appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the new Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary.
The head of the justice department, DOJ Sec. Boying Remulla, is set to sit as the new Ombudsman after Marcos Jr. appointed him to replace retired Ombudsman Samuel Martires. He is one of the seven (7) applicants for Ombudsman who made it to the shortlist submitted by the Judiciary and Bar Council or JBC to the President.
It is the President who will decide on who will be the next Ombudsman. Amid being part of the Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet, Remulla previously confirmed that he has informed the President about his decision to apply for the post. He is also confident that the DOJ will be in good hands in case he will be appointed in another position.
Following the appointment of DOJ Sec. Boying Remulla as the next Ombudsman, there are questions on who might take his position in the justice department. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, one of the names that floated is Malacañang press officer undersecretary Claire Castro.
There are rumors that Marcos Jr. will appoint Atty. Claire Castro to serve as the DOJ secretary following outgoing DOJ chief Boying Remulla’s appointment as Ombudsman. Based on the report, the Palace press official was asked about the rumors.
“Hindi po natin alam kung saan nagsimula yan so wala pong katotohanan yan. Wala pang naibibigay na detalye,” she said.
Atty. Claire Castro claimed that there is still no shortlist of the people who might be the next DOJ chief. Based on the report, the Malacañang press official was further asked if she is willing to accept the position in case it will be offered by the President to her.
“Hypothetical question, I cannot answer,” Castro said.
Atty. Claire Castro also spoke on the appointment of outgoing DOJ Sec. Boying Remulla as Ombudsman. According to her, there must be transparency and those who deserve prosecution must be prosecuted. She stressed that the Ombudsman is for everyone and not under a single directive against a group.
Amid the criticisms against his appointment, incoming Ombudsman Boying Remulla stressed his “record” saying that no other justice secretary has sent more powerful people to jail than him.