Jamaine Punzalan

Presidential Communications Office Usec. Claire Castro during a press briefing in Malacañang Palace in Manila on July 18, 2025. Revoli Cortez, PPA pool

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PCO- USEC CASTRO

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175989683875920250821-claire-castro-pco (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Presidential Communications Office Usec. Claire Castro during a press briefing in Malacañang Palace in Manila on July 18, 2025. Revoli Cortez, PPA pool</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro on Wednesday denied that she would be the next Justice Secretary, saying that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to decide on who will be the new head of the Department of Justice.</p><p>“Hindi po natin alam kung saan nagsimula yan so wala pong katotohanan yan,” Castro said in Palace briefing when asked about the reports circulating online.</p><p>“Wala pang naibibigay na detalye,” she said when asked if there was a shortlist of candidates who would replace former Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who was set to vacate the post after his <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/7/boying-remulla-is-new-ombudsman-1421">appointment as Ombudsman</a>.</p><p>When pressed if she was willing to accept an offer to head the DOJ, Castro said: “Hypothetical question, I cannot answer.”</p><p>Meanwhile, the Communications Undersecretary dispelled insinuations that Remulla, as the new Ombudsman, would prioritize cases against Vice President Sara Duterte.</p><p>“Ang pagiging at pagtatalaga sa kaniya bilang Ombudsman ay dapat magkaroon ng transparency at managot ang dapat managot kung may dapat managot,” she said.</p><p>“Ang Ombudsman ay para sa lahat, hindi para sa iisang direktiba lang ng isang grupo,” she said.</p><p>Remulla will replace Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who retired in July.</p><p>Malacañang earlier designated DOJ Undersecretary Fredderick Vida as the officer-in-charge of the agency once Remulla officially vacates the position.</p><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bi2qc4lQzHc" title="FULL: Boying Remulla&#x27;s first statement as new Ombudsman | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro on Wednesday denied that she would be the next Justice Secretary, saying that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to decide on who will be the new head of the Department of Justice.</p>

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro on Wednesday denied that she would be the next Justice Secretary, saying that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to decide on who will be the new head of the Department of Justice.

Claire Castro belies rumored appointment as next DOJ secretary

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Claire Castro belies rumored appointment as next DOJ secretary

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 08, 2025 12:16 PM PHT

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Department of Justice

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Claire Castro

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