SEVENTEEN officials of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and other government information agencies were dismissed as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues the purge of his administration, sources told The Manila Times.
Among them are Undersecretary for Administration, Finance, and GOCCs Jorjette Aquino, Assistant Secretary for Inter-Agency Communications Operations Claudine Marie Caparon, Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Communications Ana Dominique Consulta, and Assistant Secretary for Media Accreditation and Relations Dale De Vera.
The source said the courtesy resignation of PCO Directors Maribel Dario, Sheryll Anne Lizarondo, Alexius Calda, Luis Morente, Lee Ann Ducusin, Nelson De Guzman, and Robertzon Ramirez were also accepted.
Philippine Information Agency Deputy Director General Adolfo Ares Gutierrez also resigned from his post, while Director Florante Solmerin was terminated, sources said.
When Ruiz took over as PCO secretary in February, he asked all PCO officials to submit a courtesy resignation to give him a free hand in forming his team.
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Ruiz’s appointment meanwhile was not tackled by the Commission on Appointments for lack of time. A Palace source said that he will be reappointed as chief of the PCO to enable him to continue doing his functions.
Meanwhile, Ruiz issued a Special Order on June 11, 2025 giving Presidential Communications Undersecretary Michael Lim Ubac sweeping powers to direct oversight of six key attached agencies.
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Citing the need to ensure “continued oversight, coordination, and alignment of high-priority messaging and interagency communications initiatives under the Office of the Secretary,” Ruiz designated Ubac to exercise “supervision and functional oversight” of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Print, Bureau of Communications Services, Media Accreditation and Relations Office/Office of the Assistant Secretary for Media Affairs and Relations, Presidential News Desk, Unified Communications Platform, and National Security Concerns Unit.
In this capacity, Ubac holds strategic and supervisory control over press accreditation, messaging on national security and sensitive issues, editorial consistency, and interagency coordination.
His expanded role also includes organizing press briefings, managing media logistics, and maintaining relations with the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC).
Ubac will be supported by a designated assistant secretary responsible for operationalizing his expanded functions ranging from MPC engagement to coordinating access protocols and briefing logistics.
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In a separate order, Ruiz designated Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Erelson Cabatbat as assistant secretary for Media Affairs and Relations “to strengthen coordination and delivery of media-facing public communications and institutional relations with accredited press partners.”
Under his designation, Cabatbat will assist Ubac in the implementation of his assigned oversight functions, including the management and coordination of the Media Accreditation and Relations Office; liaison and coordination with the MPC; and facilitation of press briefings, media coverage, and event logistics.
Cabatbat was also tasked to provide operational and editorial support for all institutional engagements involving accredited media partners, both domestic and foreign; ensure that procedures for media accreditation, press access, and briefing management are executed in compliance with internal protocols and quality management systems; and collaborate with the Office of the Undersecretary, Palace Press Officer, and content teams to ensure proper preparation of talking points, press kits, event notices, and clearance documentation.
Ruiz also directed Cabatbat to coordinate with technical and logistics support units to ensure readiness and seamless execution of on-site and virtual briefings, interviews, and field coverage events; and serve as direct cluster liaison for all staff-level implementation requirements related to media relations, including coverage assignments, press pooling, and institutional announcements.
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Ruiz also designated Senior Undersecretary Analisa Puod as head of the Strategic Communications Cluster and Supervising Officer for Interagency Communications Operations “to ensure effective coordination of government messaging across traditional media, state-run platforms, and interagency communication offices.
Under this designation, Puod shall provide strategic direction and supervisory oversight over the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Radio, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Television, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Integrated State Media News Operations, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Interagency Communications Operations (Oasiaco), People’s Television Network, Inc., Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, Presidential Broadcast Service, Bureau of Broadcast Services, News and Information Bureau, Philippine Administrative Network Project, and Strategic Communications Administrative and Finance Unit.
Puod was tasked to provide cluster-level policy alignment and editorial coordination across traditional and state media operations; ensure narrative consistency, message direction, and media coordination in support of the Office’s communications priorities; and oversee cluster operations planning, resource allocation, staff work consolidation, and campaign execution.
