Carandang has no regrets; Lacierda, Valte to stay until 2016

MANILA, Philippines - Secretary Ricky Carandang does not regret joining government as head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) three and a half years.

“No regrets working for government, job hunt can wait after holidays,” read a tweet from GMA-7.

Another tweet direct from ABS-CBN, his former employer, read:

“I have no definite plans right now other than to take a break.”

Carandang submitted his irrevocable resignation Monday, and Aquino acted on it the next day.

He will stay on until Dec. 31.

Reports about Carandang transferring to the mining sector have been downplayed.

Francis Enrico Gutierrez of Metals Inc., a leading nickel mining and export company based in northern Mindanao, said:“ does Secretary Ricky know about mining? Not true.” 

Gutierrez is close to and has been very supportive of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Carandang’s political benefactor.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda and his deputy Abigail Valte will remain in their posts until the end of Aquino’s term in 2016.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Lacierda said he will return to the private sector in 2016.

“That’s the most definite date I can give you,” he said.

In a statement yesterday, Valte said: “I will go where the President will ask me to go. I’ll stay here as long as I can help. We serve at the pleasure of the President.”

Lacierda and Valte said they have no idea what motivated Carandang to leave after more than three years in government.

Lacierda said: “He just mentioned that he believes that he has done his job, that he would like to return to the private sector and that he will wander to the ends of the earth seeking wisdom.”

Valte said: “He felt it was time to go back to the private sector. There are times that you know, it’s time to go back. We’re not career public servants.”

Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, which handles the entire state media, was also named spokesman in late October. 

Carandang handles the speechwriters’ pool tasked to write speeches for Aquino.

Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III will now oversee the operations of the PCDSPO.