Executive Secretary Ochoa sees ‘personal reason’ for DoTC chief’s resignation

MANILA, Philippines—Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose “Ping” De Jesus was not among the Cabinet officials who saw President Benigno Aquino III off Wednesday on his two-day official working visit to Brunei.

The absence was telling as a few hours after the official sendoff at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, transportation officials eventually confirmed De Jesus had resigned from his post.

Malacañang had not confirmed the resignation of De Jesus by noon but Palace officials were expected to issue a statement later Wednesday.

At the airbase before the official confirmation came, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. merely pointed out that De Jesus had hinted Tuesday that he was resigning. Ochoa confirmed, however, that De Jesus had a meeting with the President on Monday.

“I was not privy to that. It was just a meeting between the two of them,” Ochoa told reporters.

He also said he did not know why De Jesus was not at the presidential sendoff and surmised that the transportation secretary had another commitment.

But Ochoa said that if De Jesus has resigned, it would be for a personal reason.

“That’s the only reason that I can see,” he said.