Malacañang on Wednesday said there are no changes yet in the leadership of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), affirming that former broadcast journalist Jay Ruiz will continue to serve as the agency’s acting chief.
“Sa aking pagkakaalam, wala pa po. Nananatili pong acting secretary si Jay Ruiz (In my understanding, no changes have been made. Jay Ruiz is still the acting secretary),” Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro said when asked if a new PCO chief had been appointed.
“Kapag mayroon namang bago—kung mayroon man po ha kasi iyan po yata ang lumalabas sa mga bali-balita, wala pa po akong makukumpirma kasi wala pa po ring dumarating sa akin kung anuman po iyong update (If ever there is someone new—if there really is, because that seems to be what's going around in rumors—I still can't confirm anything because I haven't received any update),” she added.
When pressed about rumors that corporate communications executive Dave Gomez would replace Ruiz, Castro said she had not received any official information.
“Hindi ko po madi-deny, hindi ko rin po masasabing oo o hindi dahil wala po sa akin pang naibibigay na anuman pong update (I can't confirm nor deny it, because I haven't been given any update),” she stressed.
To recall, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reappointed Jay Ruiz as PCO chief after his previous ad interim appointment was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) following Congress' sine die adjournment on June 13.
The CA was unable to deliberate on Ruiz’s appointment due to time constraints.
Ruiz earlier thanked President Marcos for his continued trust and reaffirmed his commitment to serve “with professionalism, integrity, and purpose.”