Duterte's spokesman dismisses Palace undersecretary as not credible

Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., who recently took on the role of spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte, said Wednesday that he has no intention of responding to every statement made by Palace Undersecretary Claire Castro. Panelo characterized Castro as "hard to take seriously," suggesting that the administration would only address criticisms deemed substantive enough to warrant a response. His comments come amid speculation about the motivations behind his appointment and the dynamics within the administration's communication strategy. The exchange underscores ongoing tensions between the Vice President's office and other government agencies. Panelo's remarks indicate the Duterte camp's approach of selective engagement with critics, focusing resources on what it considers more credible challenges to its positions and policies.