Former SexBomb dancer and actress Sunshine Garcia has come to the defense of her husband, Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro, as local officials face mounting public criticism over the persistent flooding affecting several areas in the province.

Residents and netizens have been questioning Bulacan officials, including Castro and Governor Daniel Fernando, as communities continue to deal with severe flooding following weeks of heavy rainfall.

Reports have identified several municipalities affected by serious flooding, including Hagonoy, Calumpit, Balagtas, and Paombong.

Some critics have questioned why the province continues to experience recurring floods despite its officials having served in government for years.

Amid the backlash, Garcia issued a lengthy open letter on Facebook asking the public not to place all the blame on her husband.

“HAYAAN NATIN SYA MAGTRABAHO,” she began.

Garcia admitted that she herself once assumed that elected officials had the authority to immediately address problems such as damaged roads and other infrastructure concerns.

Her perspective, she said, changed after seeing how government actually works.

“Dati iniisip ko na kapag politiko ka may power kang gawin ang lahat, pag may sirang kalsada dapat ginagawa na ’yan kahit sinong nasa pwesto, pero hindi pala ’yun ganun kadali,” she wrote.

“Kada pwesto ay may limit ang pwede mong gawin.”

According to Garcia, Castro’s responsibilities as vice governor are primarily legislative, involving laws and resolutions.

“Sa posisyon ni Alex bilang VG, more on sa batas at resolusyon ang trabaho nya,” she explained.

She maintained, however, that her husband does not limit himself to those responsibilities and continues looking for other ways to help Bulacan residents.

“Pero hindi sya nag-stop duon. Lahat ng makakatulong sa Bulacan ginagawa nya even makabangga na sya ng taong mas mataas sa kanya,” Garcia said.

Garcia also pushed back against accusations that Castro’s public activities are merely for appearances or “papogi.”

“May camera man o wala, umaga man o kahit late sa gabi hindi tumitigil ’yan magtrabaho kahit nasa bahay na lalo na ngayon nag-uulan at alam nyang may mga lugar na naman na binabaha,” she wrote.

She described her husband as constantly thinking about what he could do whenever flooding affects communities in the province.

“Parang sinisilihan ang pwet nyan sa bahay iniisip kung paano sya makakatulong dahil alam nya na sa kanila ulit ISISISI ang lahat.”

Garcia acknowledged that residents have every right to be angry, particularly those directly affected by the flooding.

“Naiintindihan namin ang galit ng mga tao lalo na yung mga naapektuhan at nahihirapan ngayon,” she said.

“Tama ang hindi dapat tumahimik, tama na dapat may pakialam na tayo at tingnan nang mabuti ang intensyon ng mga nakaupo ngayon.”

Her appeal, however, was for the issue not to be used to unfairly implicate people whom she believes should not bear responsibility for matters outside their authority.

“Sana hindi din MAGAMIT ANG ISSUE na ito sa MALING TAO,” Garcia wrote.

She said she accepts that some people may simply dislike Castro but objected to attempts to connect his name to controversies without establishing his involvement.

“Ok lang kung hindi nyo gusto si Alex pero yung ginagawa ng ibang tao na pinipilit idikit ang pangalan nya sa issue,” she said.

“Bakit hindi yung mga taong involved ang kalampagin talaga? Sa mga mapanuri alam nila kung sino ang dapat kinakalampag, pero sa mga taong may pangit na intensyon ituturo ang iba.”

Garcia appeared to be referring to the wider controversy and public scrutiny surrounding allegedly anomalous flood-control projects, an issue that has intensified public anger as communities continue to experience flooding.

Her statement, however, was primarily a defense of Castro and did not establish responsibility for specific flood-control projects or alleged irregularities.

Garcia also defended her husband’s character and political career.

“MABUTING TAO SI ALEX AT KAMI NA NAKAKAKILALA SA KANYA ANG MAGPAPATUNAY NUON,” she wrote.

According to Garcia, Castro worked his way through government rather than inheriting his political position.

“Nagsimula sya sa pinakamababang posisyon, hindi minana ang pwesto, pinaghirapan at inalagaan ang reputasyon na meron sya ngayon,” she said.

She added that criticism would not stop him from carrying out his responsibilities.

“Sirain nyo man sya patuloy pa din yan magtratrabaho ng maayos. Hindi nya kailangan magbayad para manira ng iba.”

Garcia also thanked those who continue to support Castro and urged people not to immediately believe accusations against him.

She stressed that when it comes to roads and flooding, there are limits to what Castro can directly accomplish as vice governor, but said he would continue raising these concerns with officials and agencies that have the authority to act on them.

“Yung daan at baha sa ngayon limited lang ang pwede nya gawin pero lagi nya rerequest na mapag-usapan ito sa mga taong dapat magpagawa nito,” Garcia explained.

She ended her statement by once again asking Bulacan residents to allow her husband to continue working.

“Hindi namin kailangan manlamang ng tao para umangat,” Garcia said.

“So hayaan muna natin sya magtrabaho at gawin lahat ng makakaya nya para makatulong sa Bulacan si VG Alex Castro.”

Garcia’s statement comes as frustration over recurring flooding continues to put Bulacan’s elected officials under heightened public scrutiny.