Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 's executive secretary who also served as his spokesperson during the campaign period, announced on Saturday, Sep. 17, his resignation from the post.
Nevertheless, Rodriguez said he will continue serving the country as the Presidential Chief of Staff (PCS)—a new position created by Administrative Order (AO) No. 1, signed over the weekend by Marcos Jr.
Meanwhile, Palace has not confirmed yet any replacement for the position.
Without a head as of the moment, the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) shall continue its supervision, control and oversight function over all the agencies and offices under and attached to the Office of the President (OP) pursuant to Executive Order No. 1, said Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles in a statement.
A.O. No. 1 provides for the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) to assist and support the PCS, she added.
In a press statement, Rodriguez broke his silence amid rumors of his resignation after disclosing that he asked the President's "permission to step down as Executive Secretary," which he said the latter understood.
According to him, "there is nothing more rewarding than answering the call to serve the country, a rare privilege not extended to all but was given to me by the President, His Excellency Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr."
"The work of an Executive Secretary is a 24/7 job with myriad topics expected to be attended to every day. It demands a sense of urgency which essentially requires almost all of a public servant's time to ensure that services are met and delivered," he added.
Rodriguez' resignation came amid the sugar importation fiasco of the Department of Agriculture, which is concurrently headed by Marcos Jr., that led to several Senate investigations as well as to an invitation for him to attend the hearings.
The President's former right-hand man, Rodriguez did not directly give his reason behind his resignation, although he expressed how he values his young family as it grows up.
"Equally valuable, however, is to witness firsthand your young family grow and evolve into how every parent would wish them to become and they most need me too," he said.
Rodriguez expressed his gratitude to Marcos Jr. "for his continuing trust and his sincere understanding of my decision" as he also said he "shall continue serving you and the country as the Presidential Chief of Staff."
Functions of Presidential Chief of Staff
According to A.O. No. 1, the newly created Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff (OPCOS) will be under the direct supervision of the President.
The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said there was previously a draft Special Order that sought additional functions to what was already provided under A.O. No. 1. But it was disapproved by Marcos upon the recommendation of his Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Juan Ponce Enrile.
“The OPCOS shall have the primary function of supervising and ensuring the efficient and responsive day-to-day operational support to the Presidency to enable the President to focus on strategic national concerns,” the order read.
The OPS said the order provides for the PCS to have the rank and emoluments of a Cabinet secretary. It will be assisted by a senior deputy chief of staff with the rank of secretary and two deputy chiefs of staff with rank of undersecretary, assistant secretaries and such number of directorial and other administrative staff as he deems necessary and upon the approval of the President.
The immediate staff of the PCS will come from abolished agencies, such as the Office of the Cabinet Secretary and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, said the OPS.