MANILA, Philippines — Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Friday called the civil libel complaint filed by Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste against her as an attempt to silence her from speaking about issues related to the lawmaker's solar energy business.
"Filing this case is the real way to stop me from speaking out and discussing these issues," Castro said in a statement.
"Here’s the question now: Who is really behind the filing of this case against me? Who wants to shut me up? Who stands to benefit the most from this?" she added.
Castro said she has yet to receive a copy of the complaint filed by Leviste and was responding based only on his public statements.
Earlier on Friday, Leviste filed a civil libel complaint before the Balayan Regional Trial Court, seeking P110 million in damages against Castro for her allegedly "libelous statements" regarding the real state of his solar energy firm.
