Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz vehemently denied allegations of conflict of interest in an official press conference, calling reports about his supposed financial ties to Digital 8 Inc. (DG8) “fake news” and part of a broader “demolition job” against him.

‘I never owned that company’

Ruiz refuted claims that he profited from government contracts awarded to DG8, asserting that he was never a shareholder, stakeholder, or owner of the company.

“I don’t own a share. I’m not a stakeholder. I am not an owner of Digital 8. I was an authorized representative in the joint venture agreement between IBC-13, DG8, and PCSO,” he said.

He clarified that he was appointed as DG8’s spokesperson and head of sales and marketing in October 2024 but resigned from the company on 17 January 2025.

“I never owned a single share, let me make that clear,” Ruiz reiterated.

He expressed dismay over how the allegations were reported, citing a headline that falsely implied he had won a lucrative government contract.

“They wrote, ‘Parang tumama sa lotto: Jay Ruiz’s company bags 206-million contracts from PCSO.’ But where is the byline? Who wrote it?” he asked. “No one even asked for my side. No one called. I am just here.”

‘A demolition job?’

Ruiz suggested that the accusations were politically motivated, possibly linked to ongoing changes within the PCO.

“On my eighth day, we already have this story. What’s this, a demolition job?” he asked. “I see a lot of reasons for this demolition job. There are things I need to do in this office. We are reshuffling. The Executive Secretary instructed directors and up to submit courtesy resignations.”

He emphasized that unverified accusations have real-world consequences, revealing that his mother, who has a heart condition, suffered from high blood pressure after hearing the reports.

“One thing I did not expect is that my mom, who has a heart disease, got high blood pressure yesterday,” he shared. He also expressed concern that his children were being targeted due to the false claim that he had acquired P200 million.

Fighting fake news

Ruiz asserted that his top priority as PCO Secretary is to combat misinformation.

“One of the reasons I accepted this position is to fight fake news. That was actually my topic during the flag-raising ceremony yesterday,” he said. “The greater the accusation, the greater the fact-checking. And make sure that you ask the person being accused.”

While he considered filing legal action against those responsible for spreading the allegations, he ultimately decided against it.

“I was contemplating legal action, but that might just be a distraction and make me lose focus on the job I have to do,” he said.

Ruiz called for responsible journalism, urging media professionals to uphold ethical reporting.

“It is basic in journalism to get both sides. If you do not get one side, is that balance? That’s not, right?” he stated. “The voice of truth should be louder than lies. We should be the guardians of truth.”

Ruiz also discussed his plans to reform and streamline PCO operations. He noted that inefficiencies and leaks within the agency have hampered its ability to fulfill its role.

“We are trying to streamline to come up with better processes in the PCO because there are a lot of leaks, a lot of duplication of offices,” he explained.

He outlined three core priorities for the agency: fighting fake news, improving government communication, and ensuring people-centered communication.

“The government must be felt by the citizens of the Philippines,” he stated.

Addressing concerns about his business interests, Ruiz acknowledged that he still has ownership in a political management firm and several restaurants but committed to divesting from the firm to prevent any potential conflict of interest. “I have another company that I will divest from. It’s a political management firm, and that definitely has a conflict of interest, so that’s why I’m divesting from there,” he said.

No regrets, no resignation

Despite the controversy, Ruiz remained resolute in his commitment to public service. “I was called to serve, and I answered that call. There are no regrets in accepting this position,” he said.

Ruiz also warned against continued misinformation and leaks within the PCO. “We want to identify who are the sources of these fake news and PCO leaks,” he said. “I hope they fix the story, now with my side.”