By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez on Thursday confirmed that he resigned from his post and will vacate the office on Feb. 28 “or anytime earlier when my replacement is appointed.”
In a statement, Chavez said he submitted his “irrevocable” resignation on Feb. 5, adding that he had spoken to former journalist Jay Ruiz who will serve as his successor.
“However, I will not be signing out as a believer in this administration, whose vision I will continue to support as I pursue endeavors outside of government but still within the realm of public service,” he said.
Chavez, who was named acting PCO chief on Sept. 5, 2024, thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the opportunity to serve, saying it is “an honor of a lifetime.”
He also admitted that he would leave with “one regret” because he has “fallen short of what was expected of [him].”
“It is to this fidelity to the truth—the bedrock belief to which I have anchored myself as a former broadcast journalist—that I must tell the unvarnished truth about my resignation. Since my first day working in this administration and up to almost two years and seven months, I have always served each day as if it were my last, and thus I strive to give my best,” Chavez said.
“As I always remind those who work with me at PCO, I am only as good as my last performance. And when the last day comes, I will leave with the same enthusiasm, gratitude, and hope for a better future for the country we love,” he added.
New PCO chief
Chavez said he would introduce Ruiz to the PCO Management Committee on Feb. 24 to give way for a week-long transition.
“By March 1, it’s already a plug-and-play for him as the new PCO Sec. I am also hoping that this kind of transition can be institutionalized in all other agencies,” he said.
Ruiz will serve as the fourth PCO head under the Marcos administration.
Trixie Cruz-Angeles was the first to serve as press secretary. She was succeeded by Cheloy Garafil, who now heads the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, until Sept. 2024. (PNA)
