Malacañang spokesperson Claire Castro on Tuesday pushed back against Benjamin Magalong following his criticism of the administration and the Department of Health (DOH).

In a press briefing, Castro said she listened to Magalong’s interview in which he accused Health Secretary Ted Herbosa of lying for saying that DOH hospitals, particularly in terms of basic accommodations, do not rely on guarantee letters.

"Before someone calls another person a liar, they should first look in the mirror and ask themselves who is really lying," she said in Filipino.

Castro said Magalong should also take note that the implementation of guarantee letters will begin this year and that he should be mindful of the timeline, especially since the Baguio City government had previously issued many such letters.

“If he thinks this is ‘epal’ or just showing off, why did he issue so many guarantee letters?” Castro said.

She stressed that guarantee letters are not meant to be issued by politicians. Castro noted that Magalong himself admitted the guarantee letters were issued by the city government but funded by senators, raising questions about which senators provided the assistance and whether these were the same senators he endorsed during elections.

Castro also clarified what Herbosa meant when he said guarantee letters only work if there is a guarantor.

She explained that if a guarantor fails to pay, it is the guarantor who will be held accountable. What Herbosa meant, she said, is that when there is a guarantor, that party must shoulder the payment and that funds should not come from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Thus, if the Baguio City government issues guarantee letters, it must ensure it has sufficient funds to cover them.

Castro added that the Palace will not intervene in negotiations between private hospitals and other parties.

She also said that while Magalong has been vocal recently and there is no issue with that — and that the President is aware of it — she wished he had been equally vocal during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.