Cesar Chavez quits as PCO acting chief: I have fallen short of what was expected of me

Cesar Chavez announced his irrevocable resignation as acting chief of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Thursday.

''To use a broadcast parlance, I will be signing off as Acting Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office on February 28, 2025, or anytime earlier when my replacement is appointed,'' Chavez said.

According to Chavez, he submitted his irrevocable resignation to President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. last February 5, 2025.

Despite resigning from the post, Chavez said he would not be signing out ''as a believer in this administration, whose vision I will continue to support as I pursue endeavors outside of government but still within the realm of public service.''

He thanked the President for the trust and confidence as well as the opportunity to serve under his administration, saying that this experience was an ''honor of a lifetime.''

''Although there is much for which I am grateful and a long list of people to thank, I leave with only one regret: in my estimation, I have fallen short of what was expected of me,'' Chavez said.

''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 added.

Chavez did not specify the reasons why he quit from his post. But, he said, since his first day of working under the Marcos administration, he has always served each day as if it was his last.

''And thus I strive to give my best. As I always remind those who work with me at PCO, I am only as good as my last performance,'' Chavez said.

''And when the last day comes, I will leave with the same enthusiasm, gratitude, and hope for a better future for the country we love,'' he added.

Malacañang has not made any announcement yet on who will replace Chavez and lead the communications arm of the Marcos administration.

But Chavez said former journalist Jay Ruiz will be appointed as the new PCO head.

“I spoke to Jay Ruiz already. I informed him that I will introduce him to the PCO Mancom on Monday, Feb 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,” he said.

To recall, Chavez was named PCO acting secretary last September 2024, replacing lawyer and veteran journalist Cheloy Garafil, who is presently heading the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan.

Chavez also served as the Undersecretary for Railways of the Department of Transportation under the Marcos administration. — BAP, GMA Integrated News