TRENDING: Man interrupts news anchor's live report on Duterte's ICC confirmation of charges hearing
As One News anchor Angela Lagunzad Castro was delivering a live report from The Hague on the ICC confirmation of charges hearing of former president Rodrigo Duterte, a man interrupted her broadcast and gave a shoutout to the Philippines.
During her report on Friday, Feb. 27, a man in the background paused and looked directly at the camera. Castro tried to block him by adjusting her position before saying, "We're live right now."
"For?" the passerby asked, to which she replied, "The Philippines."
"Philippines! I love the Philippines. Hello from the Netherlands... We will support you, and Philippines, let's come together. We're one big world. Let's go!" he added.
In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, Castro said that she was doing the live report for News & Views alone at around 3 a.m. in The Hague (10 a.m. Manila time) when the man interrupted her.
She admitted she was initially caught off guard and felt a little scared, especially since she was alone in an unfamiliar place.
"Nagulat talaga ako. It was dark, I was alone in an unfamiliar place, and I hadn’t had proper sleep since we got here. 'Di pa masyado nagsink in," she said. "So there was that initial moment of shock, and yes, a bit of fear."
She explained that she gave the earphones in case the anchor on the other end of the line wanted to ask a question, as she typically does when preparing to interview someone, but the man instead used them as a microphone.
Despite the initial shock, she emphasized that journalists are trained to stay composed and carry on with the report no matter the circumstances.
"All is well," Castro said. "These things happen, especially during live broadcasts in public spaces. What matters is staying professional and focused on the story."
"And whatever happens, I am ready to defend myself. Hindi tayo pinalaking weak," she continued.
She added that after the incident, the man did not apologize and simply walked away. "But a group approached me afterward and apologized on his behalf. I'm not sure if they personally knew him," she shared.
"Reporting comes with unpredictable moments," Castro mused. "At the end of the day, our job is to report the facts, even when the unexpected happens."
Castro is a reporter for One News and News5. She was sent to The Hague to cover Duterte's confirmation of charges hearing for his crimes against humanity case, which took place at the International Criminal Court from Feb. 23-27.
