Malacañang accepts resignation of PIA chief

EXECUTIVE Secretary Salvador Medialdea yesterday said Malacanang has accepted the irrevocable resignation of Harold Clavite as director of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) director.

Clavite, in his Facebook post and a statement released to media, said he never sent a resignation letter to President Duterte but had sent a letter to Medialdea on July 17 informing him of his “intention” to submit an his irrevocable resignation.

He also said that “they fired me on Friday” (August 30) and had not assigned anyone to replace him to head the agency starting Monday. The PIA is under the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

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Yesterday, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar named PIA Caraga Director Abner Caga as officer in charge of the agency.

Medialdea, in a statement, said Clavite submitted a letter dated 17 July 2019 where he “manifested his intention to submit his irrevocable resignation to the President citing personal reasons.

“He (Clavite) also said that he already gave three years to the country and it’s time for him to go back to his family. This was elevated to the President and thereafter accepted. We recognize the service Mr. Clavite has rendered and wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” he said.

Clavite recently hogged the headlines after being investigated for allegedly misusing PIA funds for hotel accommodations and in the production of information materials. He denied the allegations against him and accused some people of engaging in a demolition job against him.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Clavite said he first met with Medialdea on July 15 and told him of his plans to resign and was told instead “not to resign” after hearing his side.

He said he followed Mediladea’s directive and did not send his resignation letter to the President but instead submitted a letter addressed to the Executive Secretary on July 17 reiterating what they had discussed in their previous meeting.

“If they used that statement to make such decision (to accept my intention to resign), then I accept that,” Clavite said.

Clavite, however, said he thinks the decision was “not fair.”

“Please don’t get me wrong. I am not holding on to the position. I have been wanting to leave. I just thought it would be fair to let me know in advance so I can facilitate proper transition….It’s not fair to the people in PIA who are now left without a head to lead them in these crucial times. They fired me on Friday, they have nobody to put on Monday,” he added.

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