PRESUMPTIVE president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has formally nominated his chief of staff and spokesman Victor Rodriguez as executive secretary, his camp said in a statement yesterday.
The statement also said Rodriguez has formally relinquished his post of spokesman “to prepare for his new assignment.” There was no mention on who would serve as Marcos’ spokesman.
Rodriguez said he accepted the offer. “Who can say no to President-elect Bongbong Marcos?”
He said it is an honor for him to continue working with Marcos who, he said, he has known for a very long time. He also said he believes the former senator will continue to “serve the country efficiently and with unquestioned devotion.”
“I thanked President-elect Bongbong Marcos for the trust and confidence. Rest assured that our team will work doubly hard for the success of his six-year presidency,” he added.
Rodriguez, who also heads Marcos’ transition team, is managing lawyer of Rodriguez & Partners Law Firm. He has worked as corporate secretary and corporate counsel of Oriental Vision Mining Philippines, as president of Quezon City Trial Lawyers League, and as deputy general counsel of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
He earned his law degree from the University of Santo Tomas, and attended a Negotiation and Influence Program at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Rodriguez previously said a search committee is vetting and screening potential members of the Marcos Cabinet.
Previously named were presumptive vice president Sara Duterte-Carpio as Education secretary, and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. as interior secretary. Both have accepted.
The Department of Labor and Employment was offered to its former chief, Bienvenido Laguesma while the Department of Migrant Workers was offered to former labor undersecretary Susan Ople. Laguesma and Ople have yet to decide whether to accept or decline the post.
ENDO FOR 140 PCOO EMPLOYEES?
The contracts of at least 140 workers of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) involved in content creation are set to end by June 30.
If the incoming PCOO secretary does not continue the department’s function of being providing content, all the affected employees will end their term by June 30,” PCOO undersecretary and acting deputy spokesman Kris Ablan told a radio interview in Filipino.
The PCOO has been providing information and materials across any medium especially digital, as part overseeing government’s information drive.
Ablan said among those involved in content creation are videographers, graphic artists, video editors.
Ablan also said that aside from turning the PCOO into a media content provider, another project implemented by Communications Secretary Martin Andanar was the setting up of the Mindanao and Visayas Media Hub as well as the Government Communications Academy projects, which they hope the next administration keeps.
The PCOO is also recommending that the administration maintain Freedom of Information (FOI) policy.
President Duterte, in July 2016, issued an Executive Order No. 2 on full public disclosure and transparency in public service to promote accountability. The order also sets guidelines for requesting and releasing information from offices under the executive branch.
Ablan said about 150,000 requests made to various agencies have been processed under the FOI program.
He also said the PCOO and its attached agencies such as the Philippine Information Agency, National Printing Office, Bureau Communications Office, and Radio Television Malacañang, are prepared to turn over their programs to the incoming administration.
