Former ABS-CBN reporter Jay Ruiz is set to take the helm of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) after veteran broadcaster Cesar Chavez stepped down as its acting secretary, citing personal shortcomings as the reason for his resignation.

In a statement early Thursday morning, Feb. 20, Chavez said he submitted his irrevocable resignation on Feb. 8. His last day will be Feb. 28.

"To use a broadcast parlance, I will be signing off as Acting Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office on Feb. 28, 2025, or anytime earlier when my replacement is appointed," he wrote.

In a text message, Chavez said he would introduce Ruiz to the PCO on Monday, Feb. 24, so the latter could start his transition.

"I informed him (Ruiz) that I will introduce him to the PCO Mancom on Monday, Feb. 24, so he can begin a week-long transition, so that by March 1, it’s already a plug-and-play for him as the new PCO Secretary," he said.

"I am also hoping that this kind of transition can be institutionalized in all other agencies," he added.

In his statement, Chavez said he believed he had fallen short of expectations during his tenure.

"It is to this fidelity to the truth—the bedrock belief to which I have anchored myself as a former broadcast journalist—that I must tell the unvarnished truth about my resignation," he said.

"I leave with only one regret: in my estimation, I have fallen short of what was expected of me," he added.

Despite stepping down, Chavez said he would continue supporting the Marcos administration, whom he thanked for trusting him with the vital role of heading the administration's communications arm.

"I would like to thank the President for the opportunity to serve, which has been an honor of a lifetime made possible only by his trust and confidence in me," he said.

"I will not be signing out as a believer in this administration, whose vision I will continue to support as I pursue endeavors outside of government but still within the realm of public service," he added.

Chavez said he would continue doing his best until his last day in office.

"Since my first day working in this administration and up to almost two years and seven months, I have always served each day as if it were my last, and thus I strive to give my best," he said.

"And when the last day comes, I will leave with the same enthusiasm, gratitude, and hope for a better future for the country we love," he added.

Chavez has been on leave since Feb. 17. PCO Undersecretary Emerald Ridao has been acting as the officer-in-charge of the PCO since then.

Chavez was first appointed to the Marcos administration in July 2022 as Undersecretary for Railways at the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

In December 2023, he was named an undersecretary at the PCO before becoming its acting secretary in January 2024.

Chavez is President Marcos' third Communications Secretary. The first one was lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles, who resigned in October 2022 for health reasons. She was replaced by Cheloy Garafil, who was transferred to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan as its chairperson in September 2024.

Ruiz, the incoming Communications Secretary, is a seasoned broadcast journalist hailing from Ilocos Norte. He was a TV reporter for ABS-CBN before he retired from the network in 2016. His father, Alfonso "Chito" Ruiz, was a former mayor of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, one of the country's longest-serving mayors.