Andanar offered new post; dismisses elections 2019 rumors

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar disclosed on Monday that he has been offered a new post in government.

Interviewed with ABS-CBN News Channel, Andanar repeatedly said that he was willing to take the “sacrifice” to convince Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque not to run in the 2019 polls and just accept the new position as Press Secretary.

Some senators are proposing to revert the Presidential Communications Operation Office (PCOO), now being headed by Andanar, its old set up — the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).

Andanar said the OPS had already been offered to Roque, who had said he would think about it over the weekend.

READ: Palace, convinced Roque can’t win, dangles OPS

“We need Harry as the spokesperson for the President, for the government,” he said.

“And in order for us to keep Harry as a spokesperson, then we should offer him the Office of the Press Secretary since we’re already dissolving the PCOO and reverting to the OPS plus the power of the presidential spokesperson. This will be one office and if that happens, then it’s just practical that Harry has the entire agency,” he pointed out.

Asked then about his plans once the PCOO is dissolved, Andanar immediately ruled out speculations of him seeking an elective post.

“I will not run for office. It’s not in my plan this 2019,” he said.

Asked then if he had been offered another post, the official said repeatedly said yes.

“Yes, yes but I will wait for the President to divulge the information,” he said.

“And you know, it’s difficult to say that I want this and I want that want. We all work at the pleasure of the President so kung ano gusto ng Presidente… if I feel that the position that can be offered to me is a position that I can work on, and I can be good at, then yeah, sure.”

Andanar also answered yes when asked if he already heard the possibility that he might be offered the position of political affairs.

Asked if he would accept the job if it was formally offered to him, the PCOO chief said, “Well it’s a job that I think I can do.” /cbb