PCO resignations ordered

MANILA, Philippines — Newly appointed Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez has ordered all undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, directors and heads of agencies attached to his department to submit their courtesy resignation to give way to a performance audit.

Officials were expected to submit their courtesy resignation by Friday, a July 14 memorandum signed by Gomez read.

Until the courtesy resignations are acted upon, officials covered by the memorandum are expected to continue reporting for work.

Gomez said the memorandum was in line with standard transition practice while he conducts a performance audit.

Gomez, who took his oath before President Marcos last Monday, has vowed to conduct an “honest-to-goodness” and “unbiased” performance audit of units under his agency.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro has confirmed that she has tendered her courtesy resignation.

“It was meant to give him (Gomez) the leeway to choose the people he can work with. Of course, it would be better if he knows the people who will serve the public,” Castro told True FM yesterday.

The Presidential Communications Office has had five secretaries under Marcos.

Before Gomez, the government’s lead communication arm was led by lawyer and vlogger Trixie Angeles, former reporter and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chair Cheloy Garafil, radio broadcaster and former transportation undersecretary for railways Cesar Chavez and former television reporter Jay Ruiz.

Gomez, who worked as a reporter and corporate communications executive before joining the Cabinet, previously said he would focus on relaying Marcos’ programs and policies, promoting press freedom and carrying out the PCO’s digital transformation.