Oscar Orbos to lead PTV as officer-in-charge

Oscar Orbos is expected to head the state-run television network People’s Television Network (PTV) as its officer-in-charge, said Presidential Communications Office ad interim Secretary Jay Ruiz on Monday. 

The latest development would mean Orbos will replace Toby Nebrida. 

“Siya ang papalit. Nakausap na namin nung Sabado at pumayag siyang pansamantala munang mag-officer-in-charge doon as (general manager). We are just preparing the papers, titignan namin yung legalities. Pero sa ngayon pumayag na siya,” Ruiz told reporters. 

(He will replace [Nebrida]. We already talked to him last Saturday and he agreed to temporarily be the officer-in-charge. We are just preparing the papers while we check on the legalities. But as o0f now, he already agreed.) 

“Ang sabi niya lang ‘I won’t stay there for long’ kasi medyo may edad na si former Secretary Oscar Orbos,” he added. 

(He just told us that ‘I won’t stay there for long’ because former Secretary Oscar Orbos is already a senior citizen.) 

Ruiz said that Orbos will replace Nebrida due to alleged complaints from PTV employees.

“I don’t have specifics, pero okay na muna ‘yun…pero may mga empleyado, maraming nagpo-protesta doon, so we want to calm them down na asahan niyo na pagbabagong mangyayari,” the PCO official said when asked about the complaints. 

(I don’t have specifics, that’s all I can say for now…but there are employees who are already protesting. So we want to calm them down and assure them that change is on the way.) 

The 74-year-old Orbos previously served as executive secretary as well as transportation and communications secretary under the administration of late President Corazon Aquino from 1990 to 1991.

He also served as congressman of Pangasinan's first district from 1987 to 1990 and as governor of the province from 1995 to 1998.

Orbos also co-hosted GMA Network's "Debate with Mare at Pare," alongside economist Solita "Mareng Winnie" Monsod. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News