Chiz to PCO execs: Marcos said he'd speak for himself

Officials of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) should be careful in issuing statements on various issues as these words might be conceived as the position of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, Senate Francis "Chiz" Escudero said on Monday.

The Senate chief made the remark when asked in a press briefing about Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro's statements on relevant issues.

"Everyone at that office serves at the pleasure of the President, but I don't think she is the spokesperson of the President," Escudero said.

"If I remember it correctly, the President said he will not have a spokesperson and that has maintained kaya title pa rin niya ay press officer,"  he added.

(That's why her title is still 'press officer' because from what I know the President has no spokesperson.)

"'Yan siguro ang dapat maisip din at maalala ng ating mga opisyal sa PCO na ang Pangulo pa rin ang nananatiling magsasalita para sa sarili niya," he added.

(That is something that our officials at the PCO should also consider and remember-- the President will still speak for himself.)

GMA News Online has sought comment from Castro and will publish her comment as soon as it is available.

Last week, Escudero reacted to Castro's statement that said senators may coordinate with the President even without the Senate President's action if most of them wanted to convene the impeachment court.

"Patawarin na lamang siya bago lang siya at baka excited pa...tila excited ata nga siya sa mga napapanood ko," Escudero said.

(Just forgive her. She's still new and might be a bit excited... It seems like she's excited from what I've been watching.)

Escudero pointed out that speaking while bearing Malacañang's official seal might appear to the public that PCO officials' words are statements coming from the President himself.

"Nakakalungkot lang dahil nakatayo sila sa likod ng rostrum na may Malacañang. So mapagbibintangan palagi na ito'y galing, kaisipan at opinyon mismo ng Pangulo bagaman hanggang sa ngayon ang alam ko at pagkakaunawa ko, wala pa ring spokesperson ang pangulo at ayaw niya magkaroon ng spokesperon. Mag gusto niyang siya mismo ang kumakausap sa ating mga kababayan na tama rin naman," he said.

(It's just saddening that they are standing behind the podium with Malacañang's seal. Their statements will always be perceived to be the thoughts and opinions of the President, even though as far as I know and understand, the President still does not have a spokesperson and does not want one. He prefers to communicate directly with our fellow citizens, which is also right.) –NB, GMA Integrated News