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Helen Flores - The Philippine Star
February 25, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Veteran broadcast journalist Jay Ruiz yesterday formally assumed his post as President Marcos’ new communications secretary, vowing to intensify the administration’s fight against fake news and disinformation.
Ruiz, who replaced Cesar Chavez, is the fourth to head the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) under Marcos.
Apart from Ruiz, lawyer Clarissa Castro also took her oath as PCO undersecretary yesterday.
Castro, who hosted a legal advice program on radio, was also designated “Palace Press Officer.” She, however, clarified she is not Marcos’ spokesperson.
Speaking to reporters at Malacañang, Ruiz underscored the need for the PCO to enhance its role in “providing clear, precise, informative and educational information” to allow the public to make informed decisions.
“Kailangan sa totoo tayo, hindi sa kasinungalingan. Bawal ang sinungaling (We need to be on the side of truth, not lies. There’s no place for liars),” he said.
“Of course, many are spreading fake news today, we need to fight this. We will have public information responsibilities. If you are vloggers, you must be responsible, your responsibility to the people is to tell the truth,” he said.
According to the new PCO chief, the President also wants the public to have ready access to information on government programs and services.
“He (Marcos) said the ordinary people should know all the programs that help people. People first before anything else,” Ruiz said.
Prior to his PCO appointment, Ruiz served as the 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.
At a press briefing at Malacañang, Castro said the government has to take firmer stance against fake news.
“We have to fight fake news. It is our obligation to tell the people the truth. Let’s avoid sowing intrigues that are baseless. As of now, what is being fed to us are pure deceptions that destroy the country, the economy, right?” Castro said.
She also explained her job as Palace press officer. “I am not the spokesperson because the President will be speaking for himself. My mandate is to explain, expound pronouncements, directives of the Palace and the President,” she said. Castro said Marcos is expected to hold a regular press conference once a month.
Separate body
At a congressional hearing last week, Castro proposed the creation of a “separate regulatory body” that would deal with online posts in various social media platforms.
“For me, I think it would be best if we can create a separate regulatory body to monitor all these,” Castro said at a hearing last week on fake news by the House tri-committee where she was invited as a podcaster. The tr-comm is composed of the committees on public order and safety, information and communications technology, and public information.
At the hearing, Castro cited the existence of a popular YouTube channel of feuding couples which is easily accessible to their minor children.
Officials of the tri-committee, led by Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, were receptive to the idea.
Administration lawmakers are contemplating requiring social media platforms to secure a “legislative franchise” from Congress as a measure against proliferation of fake news. It was Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, a member of the special panel, who broached the idea during the hearing.
“If you are under the franchise of this Congress, then you will be subject to the regulation that will be imposed under the law,” Barbers said. — Delon Porcalla
