DAVAO CITY (October 14) — The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) will operate as it is now until the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) is revived.
Newly designated Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a press briefing Friday said: “I think until such time as the OPS is created, the PCOO, with him (Secretary Martin Andanar) at the helm, is still operational as an entity.”
The plan to revive the OPS has been pending for long until President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday announced he is considering its revival with Panelo as the chief.
If the OPS will be revived, the PCOO will be under the OPS.
The executive order reviving the OPS was crafted during the time of Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, but the revival was overtaken by events. Abella was relieved from the post and was appointed Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Abella was replaced by lawyer Hary Roque.
Recently, however, when Duterte said he got mixed signals from Roque, the OPS issue was again discussed.
But, pending the revival of the OPS, Panelo stressed, the PCOO will operate as it is.
Panelo said only the President could decide on Roque’s fate and give him another position if he decides not to run for senator.
As to the fate of Andanar, Duterte earlier announced he will be appointed as consultant.-Newsline
