New PCO Secretary given wider latitude

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr., thru Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin has given wider latitude and discretion to new Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz by ordering the ‘unqualified courtesy resignation’ of all presidential appointees at the PCO and all agencies, offices, and bureaus under its supervision.

In a memorandum dated February 25 but released to the public on February 27, all PCO appointees are to turn in their resignation letter to Ruiz by February 28, said Bersamin.

“The above directive shall apply to (a) all Presidential Appointees in agencies, offices, and bureaus under the PCO whose appointments are not permanent and (b) all Presidential Appointees in GOCCs (government owned and controlled corporations) attached to PCO whose appointments are in acting capacity as well as those who are in holdover status,” the document stated.

However, the order also stated that until “further action” is taken by the Office of the President, “all covered incumbents shall continue to report for work and perform their usual duties and functions.

Ruiz, a former broadcast journalist, took over from acting secretary Cesar Chavez, who was forced to take a vacation last February 20. He would be President Marcos’ fourth communications secretary in three years after Chavez, Cheloy Garafil and Trixie Angeles.

The memorandum gave Ruiz wider latitude and discretion to put in place men and women of his own choice, a privilege the President denied to his predecessors.

In separate media interviews afterwards, Ruiz stressed the decision to fire all PCO appointees is “nothing personal” on his part.