Malacañang orders courtesy resignation of presidential appointees under PCO

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This is to give new PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz 'a free hand in performing his duties and functions,' Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin says in a memo

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang has ordered all presidential appointees under the Presidential Communication Office to submit their courtesy resignations following the appointment of new PCO chief Jay Ruiz.

“In the exigency of the service, and in order to give the new PCO secretary a free hand in performing his duties and functions, all incumbent presidential appointees in agencies, offices, and bureaus under the PCO are hereby directed to tender their unqualified courtesy resignations subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in the memorandum dated February 25.

Under the Palace directive, which was made public on Saturday, March 1, the deadline for the submission of courtesy resignation was on Friday, February 28.

The order applies to presidential appointees in agencies, bureaus, and office under the PCO who do not hold permanent appointments, and appointees in government-owned and controlled corporations attached to PCO who are in acting capacity or holdover status.

Bersamin said that pending Palace action on the courtesy resignations, “all incumbents shall continue to report for work and perform their usual duties and functions, subject to any further instructions that the President, the undersigned, and /or the new leadership of PCO may deem proper.”

Ruiz was appointed as the new PCO secretary, replacing Cesar Chavez. The week-long transition began on February 24, with Ruiz set to officially assume the role on Saturday, March 1.

Ruiz is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fourth communications secretary since he assumed office in 2022. The first was lawyer-turned-vlogger Trixie Cruz-Angeles, followed by longtime Marcos aide Cheloy Garafil, and then Chavez.

Earlier in February, new Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon asked for the courtesy resignations of key transportation officials so he could form his own team. Dizon took over from Jaime Bautista, who resigned due to health reasons. – Rappler.com