MANILA — Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro said Monday that she did not report the alleged harassment involving the Malacañang media team during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s state visit to Canada last week because she had no intention of publicizing the incident.

At a Palace press briefing, Castro was asked about reports that those involved in the confrontation could face deportation.

She clarified that neither she nor the Palace media team filed a complaint or informed Philippine officials in Canada about the incident.

"I did not report it. I did not immediately let it be known because I did not plan to make it known," Castro said in Filipino.

Castro said the incident only became public after videos of the confrontation were posted online.

The footage showed protesters confronting the Palace media team while Castro and Presidential Communications Office Director Robertzon Ramirez were preparing to film a video during the Canada visit. Some protesters were seen carrying placards and a megaphone while chanting for Marcos to resign, and others were heard calling Castro "a liar" and "a crybaby."

Despite the confrontation, Castro said the team simply transferred to another location to continue filming.

"Nothing happened after that. We went straight to another venue to finish our video shoot and present the highlights of what the President did in Canada," she said.

Castro added that neither the Philippine ambassador nor the consul general in Canada was informed because the team did not intend to escalate the incident.

"As far as I'm concerned, we did not say anything. The video spread because of our fellow Filipinos. Maybe they had their own purpose for posting it," she said.

She stressed that the Palace team did not record or release the video.

"We did not get the video. The video came from them," Castro said.

Castro rebuts Padilla's 'balat sibuyas' remark

Castro also responded to remarks by Robin Padilla, who described her as "balat sibuyas," a Filipino expression referring to someone who is easily offended.

"It would be better if Senator Robin Padilla knew the whole story before calling anyone 'balat sibuyas,'" Castro said.

"We did not spread the video. We did not plan to make it bigger. They are the ones spreading the video for their own content and to distribute it to their allies or trolls."

Castro maintained that the Palace media team did not cause a disturbance and had simply gone to the area to film a video.

"Third, we did not make a complaint," she said.

She added that she initially declined to comment and even urged members of the media not to amplify the issue.

Castro said the controversy was not about being "balat sibuyas" but about the behavior displayed by some Filipinos during the confrontation.

She also criticized Padilla, an ally of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying public officials should not tolerate statements that normalize cursing or wishing death on others.

"If we tolerate that, what message does it send to the youth? Is it acceptable to curse people and wish for their deaths?" Castro said.