Three media organizations urged President Marcos to retain Jay Ruiz as the secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) amid the ongoing Cabinet revamp.

The Justice Reporters’ Organization (JUROR), the SOCSKSARGEN Press Club, and the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) have publicly expressed their support for Ruiz, citing his professionalism, journalistic integrity, and capacity to lead government messaging in a time of high public demand for truth and accountability.

In a statement, JUROR, composed of veteran journalists covering the justice beat, said Ruiz has long embodied the traits of a communicator who upholds fairness, clarity, and the public’s right to know.

“Many of us have worked alongside Mr. Ruiz during his time in broadcast journalism. He earned our respect not only for his professionalism and credibility but also for his instinctive understanding of the role of media in a democracy,” the group said.

They added that Ruiz's experience both in the newsroom and within government makes him uniquely positioned to handle the rigors of public communication in an era of fast-moving, often polarized information.

“In today’s media landscape, where facts are constantly challenged, having someone like Secretary Ruiz—who speaks the language of both government and media—is a tremendous asset to the administration and to public discourse,” JUROR emphasized.

Through a Manifesto of Support, the SOCSKSARGEN Press Club strongly urged Marcos to retain Ruiz as head of his communications arms.

They said that Ruiz "best suited to steer the PCO as the strategic communications arm of the Marcos administration," citing his broadcast expertise and vast media network as crucial in promoting responsible journalism and bridging the communication gap between government and the public.

“With such qualifications and competency that befit Secretary Ruiz, the administration of PBBM is assured of an effective and responsive communications arm,” the group stressed.

In expressing their support to Ruiz, PAPI President Nelson Santos emphasized the importance of continuity in government communications, especially during times of political noise and public pressure.

“While we fully respect the ongoing evaluation being conducted on Secretary Ruiz, we believe that changing the guards in the middle of the ballgame does not bode well for the administration—especially at a time when coherent, credible communication is most needed,” Santos said.  

“We in the community press and mainstream media alike have witnessed Secretary Ruiz’s commitment to fairness, truth, and the free flow of accurate information,” Santos added.

Santos also cautioned against the optics of frequent leadership changes in the PCO, noting that Ruiz is already the fourth press secretary since 2022.