By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – Malacañang on Monday assured the public that Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Jay Ruiz will comply with legal requirements concerning his business interests, particularly regarding his alleged ties to a private media firm.
In a press briefing, PCO Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro addressed concerns surrounding Ruiz’s previous business dealings with government agencies prior to his appointment.
A report revealed that Digital 8 Inc., a media company co-founded by Ruiz, supposedly won a contract worth over PHP206 million with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for the airing of lotto draws over state-run IBC 13 in the last quarter of 2024.
Castro said the law allows appointees to divest their shares or interests in private companies within 60 days after assuming a government position.
She confirmed that Ruiz is already in the process of complying with this requirement.
“Iyan po ay parating na po at alam naman po niya iyong batas at lahat po naman ng gagawin natin dito ay dapat naaayon sa batas (It is forthcoming and Secretary Ruiz knows the law and everything we will do here will be in accordance to the law),” Castro said.
She said Ruiz was preparing the necessary documents to divest his shares in the media firm.
In response to inquiries about potential conflicts of interest, Castro stressed that Ruiz’s business dealings prior to his appointment were not an issue, as they occurred before his designation as PCO chief.
“Kung ang mga naging negosyo niya ay hindi pa po siya na-appoint as Secretary of PCO, so wala naman po tayong nakikitang mali doon, dahil kailangan din naman niyang kumita (As for his business dealings, he has not yet been appointed as Secretary of PCO, so we don’t see anything wrong with that, because he also needs to make money),” she said.
Not an incorporator, director
In a later statement, the PCO clarified that Ruiz was “not an incorporator or director of Digital8, and has never owned any shares in the company.”
”He was merely Digital8’s authorized representative to the joint venture (JV) agreement due to his position as head of its sales and marketing,” it said.
It added that the JV won the contract through competitive public bidding in October 2024, in full compliance with all rules, regulations and laws pertaining to public bidding.
“He [Ruiz] resigned from the company on January 15, 2025 and was replaced as the company’s representative to the JV through a board resolution on January 17, 2025, more than a month before he was appointed PCO secretary,” the PCO said. (PNA)
