Magkakaroon muli ng bagong pinuno ang Presidential Communications Office (PCO) makaraang ianunsyo ni Cesar Chavez ang kaniyang pagbibitiw sa nasabing puwesto. Ang papalit umano sa kaniya, ang dating broadcast journalist na si Jay Ruiz.

''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,'' pahayag ni Chavez ngayong Huwebes.

Sinabi ni Chavez na isinumite niya na ang kaniyang irrevocable resignation kay Pangulong Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. noong February 5, 2025.

Nitong nakaraang linggo, inanunsyo pa ni Chavez magli-leave siya ng isang linggo at pansamantalang itinalaga bilang kahalili niya si Senior Undersecretary Emerald Ridao bilang Officer-in-Charge mula February 17 hanggang 21.

Sa kabila ng kaniyang pagbibitiw, mananatili umano siyang ''believer" ng administrasyong Marcos.

Pinasalamatan niya si Marcos sa ibinigay na tiwala sa kaniya para magsilbi sa pamahalaan.

''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,'' ani Chavez.

''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,'' dagdag niya.

Hindi naman tinukoy ni Chavez kung ano ang dahilan ng kaniyang pagbibitiw sa puwesto.

''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,'' pahayag pa niya.

''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,'' sabi pa ni Chavez.

Kaugnay nito, inihayag ni Chavez na ang dating journalist na Jay Ruiz ang papalit sa kaniya bilang PCO chief.

“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,” ani Chavez.

Si Ruiz ang magiging ika-apat na PCO chief mula nang maupong pangulo si Marcos noong 2022.

Una si Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, na tumagal lang ng ilang buwan, bago pinalitan ni Cheloy Garafil.

Noong September 2024, nagbitiw si Garafil at pumalit sa kaniya si Chavez.

Itinalaga naman si Garafil bilang chairperson and resident representative sa Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) sa Taiwan.

Nangyari ang pagbibitiw ni Chavez, isang linggo matapos na palitan ni Vince Dizon si Jaime Bautista bilang pinuno ng Department of Transportation (DOTr).-- mula sa ulat ni Anna Feliciana Bajo/FRJ, GMA Integrated News