PCOO Chief Martin Andanar has PDP in his blood. ROY PELOVELLO

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar is more than a close aide to President Rodrigo Duterte as he is an “ideologue” who is crucial for the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), the political party of Mr. Duterte.

The President banned all government officials from the campaigns but Mr. Duterte said he needed Andanar’s guidance for PDP’s plans.

“You know, his father is Wency who is (an) original PDP (member). That is why he was (given) an exception. But the law says they can campaign. But Andanar, he’s an ideologue. His guidance is very important to all of PDP members. He’s a son of one of the founding fathers of PDP,” Duterte said.

The President added he did not allow other government officials to campaign for or against 2019 bets because he wanted to avoid the use of government resources.

“I did not allow the other members because they might be campaigning if they want to and they will be using government cars, government fuel. And I wanted to remove that kind of issue just to be fair,” he said.

According to Mr. Duterte, he gave his “blessing” to the Communications chief to participate in PDP rallies.

“I work at the pleasure, at the behest of the President. Whatever task is given to me by the President, I follow,” Andanar said in a radio interview yesterday.

“I will not do something without the go signal of the President. So, for me, it’s work. It’s just work and, of course, I thank the President for the support he is giving me up to now,” he added.

He likewise explained the Department of Justice, the Civil Service Commission and the Commission on Elections have rules which exempt Cabinet officials from certain prohibitions during the election period.

“It means if you’re a member of the Cabinet, you can campaign because you are a political appointee and an alter ego of the President,” Andanar said.

The Administrative Code of 1987 bans civil servants from engaging in partisan political activities, except to vote. This, however, does not bar the President and Cabinet officials since they hold positions which are political in nature.

Mr. Duterte added he has no qualms about the recent trip of PCOO officials to European countries to discuss media-related issues, so long as there is no corruption involved and “the funds are properly accounted (for).”

He said he leaves it up to Andanar to make decisions for the PCOO.

“He (Andanar) is a chief of office. I do not tinker with the decisions of how to do it, do it better and do it better than the rest,” the President said.

He cited the importance of the PCOO’s mandate in his presidency.

“We have to have a propaganda division you know. The presidency is a political office. But, more importantly, it’s the decision of the head of office. Then all he has to do is to tell me that it is good and I will listen and if I agree, go ahead. The only thing is that the money of the government should be spent correctly and properly,” the President said.

Andanar earlier had said public funds were not wasted in the official meetings with officials of the EU Parliament, Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, European Commission and leaders of the Filipino community and the conduct of the Press Freedom Caravan that took place from 17 to 18 February in Brussels and on 20 February in Geneva, Switzerland.

He added the meeting with officials discussed ways to address the communist insurgency.

Andanar said the PCOO, in the same mission, found it “an opportune time” to include a Press Freedom Caravan to maximize the official trip.