Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro on Wednesday denied being the woman heard in the voice recording released by Senator Robin Padilla during a Senate budget hearing, which allegedly features a conversation with an individual linked to a “troll farm.”

The recording featured two women discussing a supposed troll farm, with Padilla alleging that one of the voices belonged to someone connected to Castro.

“For the satisfaction of Senator Robin Padilla, hindi po ako ang nasa video clip,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing on November 26.

According to her, the recording had been circulating long before and involved a different woman entirely.

“I deny that the person was I [me] talking to a certain vlogger,” Castro emphasized.

Castro questioned the origin of the audio clip, saying it did not come from any credible or mainstream source.

“Hindi nga po natin alam kung saan nanggaling. Mas maganda po itanong nyo po sana kay Senator Robin, saan niya po ba nakuha ito? Anong source ito galing? Sa ating pagkakaalam, hindi ito galing sa mainstream. Kung galing ito sa mga troll, obligasyon niya pong magsabi kung saan yung source,” she said.

“Si Sen. Robin ay nagpapanukala ng anti-troll farm bill. Maganda ang kanyang adhikain, maganda ang kaniyang pinapanukalang batas, troll farm for fake news,” he said.

Castro said the senator's advocacy is commendable, but he should also be a model.

“Sana maging modelo rin po si Sen. Robin, modelo na hindi magpapagamit o hindi magpapabiktima sa troll farm na nagpapakalat ng fake news,” she emphasized.

Padilla earlier played an audio recording during the Senate hearing in which a woman referred to as "madam" could be heard scolding a supposed vlogger. He claimed the voice belonged to Castro.

The recording contained explicit exchanges, including: “Manghingi ka na naman ng dagdag, puro palpak naman yang mga blogger mo,” allegedly spoken by the woman Padilla identified as Castro.

Another voice responded: “Pasensya na madam, ginagawa naman po namin lahat ‘yung mga script na fino-forward sa amin. Sinusunod naman po namin.”

The clip also featured remarks such as: “Yan ba ‘yung matandang mukhang gorilya na puro live ang pinaggagawa?”

Castro, citing Senator Loren Legarda, reminded public officials to “know their sources.”

Padilla did not disclose where he obtained the unverified recording.

During the hearing, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III suggested submitting the recording to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for a voice print analysis, warning that baseless assumptions could unjustly implicate government personnel.