ACTING Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez resigned from his post roughly five months after his appointment, claiming he felt he had fallen short of what was expected of him.
Chavez said he will be replaced by former ABS-CBN reporter and businessman Jay Ruiz.
In a message to the media, he said he submitted his resignation letter last February 5 and would be “signing off as Acting Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office on February 28, 2025, or anytime earlier when my replacement is appointed.
“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 added.
Chavez did not cite any reasons for his resignation but said he is leaving “with only one regret: in my estimation, I have fallen short of what was expected of me.
“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. 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 said.
Chavez said he already spoke with Ruiz whom he would introduce to the PCO management committee on Monday, February 24, “so he can begin a week-long transition.”
“So that 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 added.
Chavez was named acting secretary in September 2024 replacing Cheloy Garafil, who now chairs the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).
He is the third PCO secretary under President Marcos Jr., with the first being Garafil Trixie Cruz-Angeles.
Chavez is the second Cabinet official to resign this month. Former Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista resigned due to health reasons and was replaced by former Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) chief Vivencio “Vince” Dizon.
