A total of 17 officials from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) have had their courtesy resignations accepted, marking a significant reshuffle within the agency, according to Malacañang.
“Seventeen courtesy resignations have been accepted in the PCO, based on my latest information,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed Tuesday during a Palace briefing.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reappointed Jay Ruiz as acting secretary of the PCO, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin also confirmed Tuesday. He said the President signed the reappointment on Monday.
Ruiz was previously bypassed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) after the body failed to tackle his confirmation due to lack of time before Congress adjourned sine die last week. In a statement, Ruiz thanked the President for his continued trust.
“This fresh mandate is both an honor and a responsibility that strengthens my resolve to serve with greater dedication, especially at a time when effective communication is central to the success of the administration’s programs,” Ruiz said. He also praised the President’s “quiet determination and unwavering commitment to public service,” which he said inspires him to lead the PCO with professionalism and purpose.
While no timeline was given for possible replacements, Castro said that vacant positions would likely be filled to ensure operational continuity. “If the position is essential and needs a competent person, then it definitely needs to be filled,” she noted.
Castro also clarified that PCO Undersecretary Ana Puod voluntarily stepped down for personal reasons, and not as part of a courtesy resignation directive.
“There was no directive for undersecretaries to file courtesy resignations. It remains the President’s prerogative to remove officials who are not aligned with his directives,” Castro explained.
The update comes as the Marcos administration recalibrates its communications strategy to ensure unified messaging across government agencies.
