Performance audit on PCO appointees underway

DAVAO CITY — Presidential Communications appointees acting Presidential Communications Secretary Jaybee Ruiz on Monday disclosed that a performance audit is being conducted on presidential appointees within the PCO.

Malacañang had earlier directed all incumbent PCO officials and heads of its attached agencies to submit their courtesy resignations by February 28, allowing Ruiz a free hand in managing the department.

He clarified that such audits are standard procedures during government agency leadership transitions.

Ruiz, who was sworn in as PCO chief before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last week, underscored the importance of trust and alignment in public service.

“Mahirap din po kasi, syempre, dapat mapagkakatiwalaan. Kasi kung hindi mo kasama, hindi mo naman siya masyadong kilala. So, of course, as a secretary, dapat dalhin mo rin ‘yung sarili mong tao. And then, of course, i-assess mo rin ‘yung mga proseso at sistema sa opisina. So sa akin lang, siyempre, walang personalan,” RUiz in an interview said.

(Of course, we have to trust each other. If you haven’t worked with an official before, you don’t know them well. So, as secretary, you need to bring in your own people and assess the office’s processes and systems. But for me, it’s nothing personal), Ruiz said.

The PCO plays a crucial role in disseminating accurate information to the public, and Ruiz reiterated his commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in government communication.