SINCE TAKING OVER the country’s top elective post in 2022, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can’t seem to find the perfect fit for the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) shoes. In less than three years, PCO has already had four secretaries — and as many purges in the pretext of “reorganization”.
And from how it looks, the turmoil within the PCO shows no signs of settling.
In what appears to be another “cleansing”, no less than Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin directed all presidential appointees of agencies under the PCO to file courtesy resignations to give the newly-appointed Press Secretary a “free hand” in performing his duties as the government’s top communicator.
The new presidential appointee, Jay Ruiz, a former ABS-CBN reporter, replaced fellow broadcast journalist Cesar Chavez who tendered his irrevocable resignation after “falling short” of what was expected of him.
PLUG THE LEAKAGE
With a rout out, presidential appointees in the PCO triggered a scramble for survival. Were bureau chiefs pulling strings to retain posts or secure promotions amid a shake-up?
Who are the actual targets of the revamp? Rumor mongers, fake news peddlers and remnants of the previous administration suspected of leaking sensitive information?
By his own admission, Ruiz cited the urgent need to plug the “leakage” of sensitive information — confidential or otherwise — within the PCO. He, however, did not elaborate as to who or what leakages was referred to.
Aside from leaks, the new PCO chief acknowledged intrigues, disintegration, and money-making schemes. Ruiz cited the urgent need to change guards in an apparent effort to ease the instability within the agency mandated to effectively manage the President’s communications strategy.
FRESH MESSAGING STRATEGIES
The President, according to Ruiz, instructed him to ensure that accurate information about the government’s programs and services is conveyed directly to the people. The PCO chief is expected to infuse new messaging strategies.
For one, Ruiz is facing a tall order — managing the administration’s messaging at a critical time — as the President’s approval ratings are rapidly dropping amid political bickerings.
Ruiz is expected to find ways to address deteriorating government reputation in view of persistent issues involving political dynasty, corruption, inflation, pork barrel in the guise of cash assistance programs, insertions in the 2025 national budget, the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, to name a few.
(The new PCO chief) is eyeing censorship in the guise of “regulation” of social media contents to combat fake news and disinformation… considering legal remedies against fake news peddlers…
CENSORSHIP OR REGULATION?
To start with, Ruiz is eyeing censorship in the guise of “regulation” of social media contents to combat fake news and disinformation. He is also considering legal remedies against fake news peddlers, mostly on social media, which the PCO chief claimed doesn’t have any regulation mechanism.
A check on Facebook, which is deemed as the most dominant social media platform in the Philippines, showed otherwise.
In fact, Facebook has put in place what is aptly referred to as “Community Standards,” repeated violations of which results in content removal, reduced visibility (audience), account restrictions, suspension or dissolving the account.
NOTHING PERSONAL
According to Ruiz, there’s nothing wrong with the directive compelling the PCO officials to submit courtesy resignations, adding that such has been the norm whenever a new leader is appointed.
“Usually, that’s how it is because we’re all presidential appointees here. Just for us, of course, a free hand in choosing our colleagues. As secretary, you should also bring your own people and assess the processes and systems in the office. Nothing personal,” he averred.
Ruiz plans to audit and assess each bureau under the PCO to ensure proper operations.
PREDECESSORS
Prior to his designation were three equally prominent appointees. Marcos’ first Press Secretary was lawyer-vlogger Trixie Cruz-Angeles who served for four months from June to October 2022. She has since been a basher of the administration.
Angeles was replaced by another lawyer Cheloy Velicaria Garafil, a former journalist, who left in 2024 and was appointed chairperson of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office. She was replaced by Chavez, a veteran broadcast journalist, who also resigned six months after “falling short” of what was expected of him.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Barely a week after officially taking over the PCO, Ruiz found himself at the receiving end of nasty remarks over reports that he owns a media firm which recently secured two lucrative government contracts with a combined amount of P206 million.
Ruiz, who co-founded media company Digital 8 Inc., should have divested his stakes in private firms before his appointment as PCO Secretary to avoid conflict of interest, as provided for under Section 7 of the Republic Act 6713 embarking on ethical standards and Code of Conduct for public officials.
Conflict of interest arises when a public official or employee is a member of a board, an officer, or a substantial stockholder of a private corporation or owner or has a substantial interest in a business, and the interest of such corporation or business, or his rights or duties therein.