Lawyer Victor Rodriguez is no longer part of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., newly-sworn Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said on Tuesday.
In a courtesy call with officers of the Malacañang Press Corps, Bersamin disclosed that Rodriguez has not been reappointed to any position.
Contrary to earlier reports that Rodriguez was appointed as the Presidential Chief of Staff through Administrative Order no. 1, Bersamin said no such order has been issued yet.
"We don't even talk about it," Bersamin said of the purported AO no. 1.
"You know we have to respect the privacy of the former executive secretary. He's entitled to it, and to be fair to him as well as to the President, let us not belabor that issue kasi the decision has been made," he said.
"I was appointed Executive Secretary. I was sworn in into office and that should put that matter to rest," he added.
The 48-year-old lawyer and Marcos' long-time chief of staff was credited for the successful and smooth conduct of the latter's presidential campaign.