PCO appointees ordered to tender courtesy resignations

MANILA, Philippines — All appointees in agencies, offices and bureaus under the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) were ordered to submit their courtesy resignations to give the agency’s new Secretary, Jay Ruiz, a free hand in forming his staff.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin issued the directive through a memorandum to PCO appointees released last Feb. 25.

They were given until Feb. 28 to submit their courtesy resignations.

“In the exigency of service and in order to give the new PCO secretary a free hand in performing his duties and functions, all incumbent presidential appointees in agencies, offices and bureaus under the PCO are hereby directed to tender their unqualified courtesy resignations subject to existing laws, rules and regulations,” Bersamin said.

The directive covered all appointees in agencies, offices and bureaus under the government’s lead communication arm whose appointments are not permanent, those in government-owned or -controlled corporations attached to the agency whose appointments are in acting capacity and those who are on holdover status.

Until President Marcos or Bersamin acts on the courtesy resignations, all covered incumbents shall continue to report for work and perform their usual duties and functions, subject to any further instructions that the President, the Executive Secretary or the new PCO leadership may deem proper, the memorandum said.

Bersamin also directed Ruiz to ensure that all covered incumbents are informed of and are compliant with the directive.

Ruiz, a former ABS-CBN reporter, was named PCO secretary last month, the fourth person to be named to the post under Marcos.

The former secretaries of the communication agency under the present administration were lawyer and vlogger Trixie Angeles, former journalist and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chief Cheloy Garafil and broadcaster Cesar Chavez.

Ruiz has vowed to combat “fake news” and to ensure that the administration’s programs are relayed to the public.