Appointments of PCO, DICT chiefs deemed bypassed by CA
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Jaybee Ruiz (left) and Information Communications Technology chief Henry Rhoel Aguda. — Inquirer files
MANILA, Philippines — The appointments of Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jaybee Ruiz and Department of Information Communications Technology (DICT) chief Henry Rhoel Aguda are deemed bypassed by the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA).
This was according to Sen. Joel Villanueva, who said that they would need a reappointment from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“They will be bypassed as soon as we adjourn the session today — the last session of the Commission on Appointments. They will be bypassed and they would be needing reappointment from the President,” Villanueva told reporters.
A panel of the CA previously suspended the deliberation and confirmation of Ruiz as the secretary of the PCO due to lack of material time.
Before the decision was made, Ruiz confirmed that his appointment has yet to be withdrawn by the Palace.
“When I asked Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, he told me to ‘just focus on your job and continue with it because we have not withdrawn your appointment,’” said Ruiz then.
Marcos swore in Ruiz, a former broadcast journalist, as acting secretary of the PCO in February, replacing Cesar Chavez, who held the post for less than six months.
READ: Chavez third Marcos media chief to exit
Before his appointment, Ruiz also served as senior vice president for business development at Istratehiya Inc., a company specializing in political management, surveys, and campaign strategies at both local and national levels.
Meanwhile, the deliberations on the appointment of Aguda were likewise suspended due to insufficient time.
Aguda took the helm of the DICT in March, replacing Ivan Uy, who resigned from his post in February.
READ: DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy resigns
Prior to his appointment as DICT chief, Aguda was the president and chief executive of UnionDigital Bank. /das
