Malacañang announced on Wednesday that the directive for all officials of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to resign from their respective posts will provide Acting Secretary Dave Gomez with the flexibility to choose his staff.
In a radio interview, PCO Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that she would submit her courtesy resignation within the day. “To also give him leeway to choose who the people he can be with. And of course, it would be better if he knows someone who can serve the people,” Castro explained.
Gomez confirmed that he directed all incumbent PCO undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, directors, and heads of other presidential appointees from the agency’s attached agencies to tender their unqualified courtesy resignations by July 18. He noted that the issuance of the memorandum is a standard transition practice while a performance review is underway.
According to the memorandum issued by Gomez on Monday, all PCO officials are expected to continue reporting for work and performing their usual duties and responsibilities “until any action is taken” on their courtesy resignations.
When asked if there was an instruction for her to tone down her responses to media queries during Palace press briefings, Castro described herself as “gentle” in answering questions. “I’m gentle. I’m too gentle. Maybe it’s just a coincidence; there are times when fake news needs to be fought,” she said.
“Maybe, what they want from me is what is true. It’s already difficult for me to act. So what is mine and what truth I hold, that’s what I will fight for,” Castro added.
