Castro, PCO clash over Ruiz defense: Palace comms musical chairs continuing?

Is the revolving door at the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) continuing to spin with the now questioned appointment of its fourth head in three years of the Marcos administration?

A quiet Monday morning at the PCO was disrupted by published allegations that its new chief, Secretary Jay Ruiz, faces a potential conflict of interest due to his reported ties to a media firm that bagged government contracts.

Reports claimed Ruiz is a top executive of Digital 8 Inc., a company that secured a P178.5-million joint venture contract with Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13) to produce and transmit Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) lotto draws and other games.

The programs were previously aired on the People’s Television Network (PTV), but have since moved to IBC-13. Both PTV-4 and IBC-13 are state owned.

Additionally, Digital 8 Inc. reportedly won a separate P27.552-million contract with PCSO in December 2024 for the production and placement of digital promotional videos.

Combined, these contracts totaled P206 million in government awards to Digital 8.

Ruiz had yet to publicly address the allegations at press time. In his place, Palace press officer, Undersecretary Claire Castro, told reporters Ruiz was in the process of divesting from the firm to resolve any conflict of interest.

“Our law allows him to divest shares or interest in any company he owns within 60 days from the time he assumes the position. That is coming soon, and he knows the law. Everything we do here must be in accordance with t he law,” Castro said in a press briefing.

She added that Ruiz was preparing the necessary documents to divest his ownership in the firm he reportedly co-founded.

However, late Monday afternoon, the PCO released a statement refuting the claim and also Castro’s earlier explanation, asserting that Ruiz was neither an incorporator nor a director of Digital 8 Inc., or that he owned shares that should be divested.

The PCO maintained that Ruiz only served as an authorized representative of Digital 8 in its joint venture with the government in his former role as head of the media company’s sales and marketing division.

‘Fair bidding’

“The joint venture won the contract through a competitive public bidding in October 2024, in full compliance with all the rules, regulations, and laws pertaining to a public bidding,” the PCO said.

The statement added that Ruiz left the company on 15 January and was replaced as the company’s representative to the joint venture through a board resolution on 17 January, more than one month before his PCO appointment.

Nonetheless, a photo taken during a joint press conference in December last year between IBC-13 and PCSO showed Ruiz with a label identifying him as president of Digital 8.

Citing Section 3(i) of Republic Act 6713, the PCO emphasized that no conflict of interest exists, as Ruiz no longer has any role or stake in the company.

The PCO labeled the reports as “false, inaccurate, and misleading.”

IBC-13 responds

Meanwhile, IBC-13 issued a statement denouncing the reports as “fake news.”

Its president and chief operating officer, Jose Policarpio, said the network submitted “all the needed requirements” to qualify for the PCSO project and won the bidding in December 2024 as the “single calculated and responsive bidder.”

“IBC-13 is profoundly affronted by the false information disseminated by some groups with regard to its legal, straightforward, and transparent acquisition of the contract to air the PCSO Lotto draws. We strongly urge the public to trust only reliable sources of news,” Policarpio said.

The PCO and the entities under it are undergoing leadership changes following the departure of former head Cesar Chavez.

Monday marked Ruiz’s first day at the helm after a week-long transition from Chavez.

Bersamin memo

On Saturday, Ruiz confirmed receiving a memorandum from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin dated 25 February directing all presidential appointees of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to file courtesy resignations.

This move, Ruiz said, will give him a “free hand” in performing his duties. In a chance interview, Ruiz described the directive as routine whenever a new leader is appointed, even in private companies. He emphasized that Bersamin’s call was “nothing personal,” as officials are presidential appointees.

“Usually, that’s how it is because we’re all presidential appointees here. Just for us, of course, a free hand in choosing our colleagues. As secretary, you should also bring your own people and assess the processes and systems in the office. Nothing personal,” he said.

Ruiz said he plans to audit and assess each department under the PCO to ensure proper operations.

Marcos’ first Press Secretary was lawyer-vlogger Trixie Cruz-Angeles who served for four months from June to October 2022. She left the administration due to health reasons.

She was replaced by Cheloy Garafil, also a lawyer and a former journalist. Under her leadership, the Office of the Press Secretary transformed into PCO.

Garafil left in 2024 and was appointed chairperson of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office. She was replaced by Chavez, a veteran broadcast journalist.

Chavez left the PCO last month after six months after “falling short” of what was expected of him.