Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin has ordered all undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and directors in the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to submit their courtesy resignation in light of the change in its leadership last week.

In a memorandum dated Feb. 25, Bersamin said the move aims to give the new PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz a "free hand" in performing his duties and functions.

"All incumbent undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and directors in PCO are hereby directed to tender their unqualified courtesy resignations... not later than 28 February 2025 (Friday)," it read.

Until any action is taken by President Marcos or Bersamin on such courtesy resignations, the incumbent PCO executives shall continue reporting for work and performing their usual duties and functions.

"For this purpose, the PCO Secretary is hereby directed to ensure that all covered incumbents in PCO are informed of the above directive, and to closely monitor their compliance thereto," it read.

Jay Ruiz took his oath as the new PCO Secretary on Feb. 24, alongside lawyer Claire Castro as PCO Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer.

Ruiz, the fourth Palace media chief since Marcos assumed office in 2022, replaced fellow seasoned broadcaster Cesar Chavez, who held the position for over a year.

In an interview upon assuming the post, Ruiz vowed to combat misinformation and fake news, as he identified them as critical challenges facing the Marcos administration.

"Syempre kinakailangan natin labanan ang mga fake news lalo na ang mga kasinungalingan, kasi yun ang nakakasama sa atin (We need to fight fake news, especially the lies, because that’s what harms us)," he said.

"Ang daming kasinungalingan na mga sinasabi sa atin, na walang facts (There are so many lies being spread without facts)," he added.

Since the change in the PCO leadership, there have been three press briefings with Undersecretary Claire Castro, who explained that her duty was to expound on the President's pronouncements or to bridge gaps, if any.

In an interview with State-run Radyo Pilipinas on Saturday, March 1, Castro expressed her intention to hold daily press briefings.