The Philippine Palace defended Zofia Canlas' appointment to a commission serving urban-poor communities, citing her prior work there amid criticism of her qualifications and photos of overseas travel.
At an Oct. 20 briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Canlas, 27, was familiar with the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) because she had worked there before. Castro urged the public to assess Canlas by her performance and said neither age nor wealth should prevent someone from serving.
The commission brings concerns from urban-poor communities to national officials. Its commissioners also help negotiate when informal-settler families could be required to leave the land where they live.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that photos of Canlas' trips to France, Italy and Greece drew criticism. It also reported that Canlas graduated from De La Salle University in 2024 with a biology degree and, in 2025, became chief of staff to the PCUP chairperson after serving as Batang Quiapo party-list's first nominee.
Castro said a law degree is unnecessary for commissioners negotiating with affected communities. She distinguished those discussions from filing or handling a legal case, which she said requires a lawyer. Castro said criticism of Canlas would be justified if her work later gave the public reason for it.
