In a significant shake-up at the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. officiated the swearing-in of Jay Ruiz as the new Ad Interim Secretary and Claire Castro as Undersecretary on February 24, 2025, at Malacañang. The ceremony marked a new chapter for the PCO, with Ruiz stepping into his role following an introduction by outgoing chief Cesar Chavez to the Malacañang Press Corps.
In his inaugural address as PCO Secretary, Ruiz expressed a strong commitment to combating disinformation and ensuring that the public is well-informed about the Marcos administration’s initiatives. He emphasized the government’s dedication to serving the people, stating, “What we want is to make people know that the government is for the people.” A week-long transition period has been scheduled, with Ruiz officially taking over on March 1.
Claire Castro, in addition to her role as PCO Undersecretary, has been appointed as the new Palace press officer. In her first media interaction, Castro did not hold back, criticizing former president Rodrigo Duterte for his unfounded allegations that Marcos is steering towards a dictatorship. Castro dismissed these claims as baseless intrigues, asserting, “We cannot be swayed by baseless intrigues.” She further highlighted the case of former senator Leila de Lima, who was imprisoned on fabricated charges during Duterte’s tenure, suggesting that the public should expect nothing but more of the same from the former president.