Short stint for Chavez, quits as Marcos’ media chief

National

CESAR Chavez has resigned as Presidential Communications Office (PCO) chief, making him the third media chief to exit the Marcos Cabinet.

Chavez was five months into his office when he submitted his irrevocable resignation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Chavez admitted that he was not able to meet the expectations set for him as the head of Malacañang’s communication arm.

“I leave with only one regret: in my estimation, I have fallen short of what was expected of me. It is to this fidelity to the truth—the bedrock belief to which I have anchored myself as a former broadcast journalist—that I must tell the unvarnished truth about my resignation,” he said in an Inquirer report.

Chavez denied that he was fired.

“No one told me to resign,” Chavez said.

Chavez served as the third press secretary of the Marcos Cabinet. He was appointed last September 2024, succeeding lawyer and former journalist Cheloy Garafil, who is now the chief of Manila Economic Cultural Office (MECO).

While Malacañang has not yet officially announced his replacement, Chavez disclosed that former journalist Jay Ruiz will be filling in the position. He anticipates the transition starting February 24, with Ruiz fully taking over by March 1.

Ruiz worked for 20 years with ABS-CBN as a defense and police beat reporter.

“I spoke to Jay Ruiz already. I informed him that I will introduce him to the PCO Mancom 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,” Chavez said in a GMA News report.(Johanna Sumalinog, USJ-R Intern)