Claire Castro to Resign Amid PCO Reorganization Under New Chief Dave Gomez

Manila – July 16, 2025 Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed she will submit her courtesy resignation following a directive from newly appointed PCO Acting Secretary Dave Gomez.

The move is part of a sweeping reorganization within the Presidential Communications Office, aimed at giving Gomez full discretion to form his own team. All political appointees—including undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and directors—have been instructed to tender their resignations by July 18, as outlined in Gomez’s transition memorandum. Castro said the decision allows the new leadership to choose officials who align with its communication goals. “Mas maganda kung kilala niya ang tao na makakapagsilbi para sa taumbayan,” she noted in a radio interview. Gomez, a former journalist and PR executive, was sworn in on July 11 and is the fifth PCO chief under the Marcos administration. He has pledged to uphold press freedom, promote government transparency, and lead a performance audit of the agency.

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Imee Marcos Files Bill to Block Foreign Arrests Without Local Warrant

Manila – July 16, 2025 Senator Imee Marcos has filed Senate Bill No. 557 , officially titled the “President Rodrigo R. Duterte Act,” which seeks to prohibit the arrest, detention, or transfer of any individual within Philippine territory to a foreign or international entity without a warrant issued by a Philippine court . The proposed legislation comes in response to the March 11 arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte , who was turned over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s drug war. Marcos described the incident as an act of “extraordinary rendition” —a term used to denote the transfer of a detainee to foreign custody without due process. 🔍 Key Provisions of the Bill The measure outlines several restrictions aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty and constitutional rights : No arrest or transfer of individuals to foreign jurisdictions without a local court order or the person’s written consen...

Trump, Marcos Hold High-Stakes Trade Talks as Tariff Deadline Nears

During their high-stakes bilateral meeting at the White House on July 22, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged that trade negotiations with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had not yet reached a final agreement, citing Marcos as a “very tough negotiator.” Trump’s remark—“So far we're not yet there because he's negotiating too tough... But we'll probably agree to something”—underscored the tense but active nature of the talks. At the heart of the negotiation is a proposed reciprocal trade deal that would reshape economic relations between the two countries. The U.S. is pushing for zero tariffs on American goods entering the Philippines, aiming to open the Southeast Asian market to U.S. exports without barriers. In contrast, the Philippines is being asked to accept a 19% tariff on its own exports to the U.S.—a rate just shy of the 20% penalty Trump threatened to impose if no deal is reached by August 1 . This imbalance has sparked debate in M...

First Lady to Skip Marcos’ US Visit — Palace Confirms

Manila – July 16, 2025 First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will not be joining President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on his upcoming official visit to Washington D.C. from July 20 to 23 , Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro confirmed Wednesday. The Palace did not disclose the reason for her absence, marking a rare instance where the First Lady will not accompany the President on a foreign trip. Marcos is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump during the visit, which is expected to focus on defense, trade, and regional security. This will be President Marcos’ fifth trip to the United States since assuming office in 2022, and his first under the Trump administration’s second term.

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