GMA reorganizes Tiglao’s office

President Arroyo issued yesterday Administrative Order 62 reorganizing the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff (OPCS) which vested more powers on presidential chief of staff Rigoberto Tiglao.

The OPCS is now a full-blown agency under the Office of the President (OP) with wide-ranging powers over other line and staff personnel at Malacañang.

Mrs. Arroyo defined the powers and functions of the presidential chief of staff under AO 62, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR yesterday, in relation with the functions of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), headed by Secretary Silvestre Afable Jr.

In AO 62, the President directed the OPCS "to coordinate closely with the PMS as the primary government agency directly responsible for providing substantive staff assistance in the presidential exercise of overall management of the development process."

The directive was, however, silent on its relations with the Office of the Executive Secretary, whose head (Alberto Romulo) is regarded as the so-called "little president."

But Tiglao was tasked to ensure the close coordination with other presidential advisers and assistants who submit their reports to Mrs. Arroyo through the executive secretary.

The Chief Executive also empowered Tiglao to coordinate with the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) headed by Secretary Hernani Braganza and the Office of the Presidential Spokesman headed by Secretary Ignacio Bunye "for the specific purpose of formulating and implementing the President’s public communications programs."

Braganza and Tiglao though have not kept secret their personal differences following their row over office space at the Palace.

Tiglao holds office at the former bedroom of the ousted dictator, late President Ferdinand Marcos.

Invoking her powers under Administrative Code of 1987, Mrs. Arroyo cited "the critical nature of the Office of the President" in issuing AO 62. – Marichu Villanueva