OPINION
Ed Javier
Jay Ruiz: A Serious Liability to the Marcos Administration
Photo credit: PCO
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is supposed to be the government’s frontline defense against misinformation.
Yet, under its new chief, Jay Ruiz, it seems to be doing the opposite.
Instead of ensuring government messaging is clear and credible, Ruiz himself has become a source of confusion, misstatements, and ethical concerns.
RECKLESS SABAH STATEMENT
One of the biggest responsibilities of the PCO is to protect national interests through proper messaging.
However, in a stunning display of ignorance recently, Ruiz misrepresented the Philippines’ long-standing claim over Sabah, suggesting that the country had already “lost” the territory.
Senator Robin Padilla publicly corrected Ruiz, reaffirming that the Philippines has not abandoned its claim.
This raises a serious concern: If Malaysia were to officially cite Ruiz’s statement as confirmation of their ownership of Sabah, would this not impact diplomatic relations?
It is likely that the Department of Foreign Affairs would strongly object to such an implication.
If the government’s chief communicator spreads misleading information, how can the public trust the PCO to fight disinformation?
Ruiz has repeatedly warned about the dangers of fake news, saying that lies repeated a thousand times become the truth.
But his own words show that the bigger risk to national unity isn’t just online disinformation, it’s the failure of the government’s top communicator to get the facts straight.
Instead of crafting a credible strategy to counter fake news, Ruiz is making statements that create more confusion than clarity.
P200-MILLION CONTRACT
His credibility was further questioned when reports surfaced linking him to a company that secured a P200-million government contract—something he did not disclose until it became public.
When the issue came to light, a subordinate claimed Ruiz was in the process of divesting his ownership in the company.
Days later, Ruiz himself stated there was nothing to divest because he never held shares in the first place.
So, which is it? Was he divesting, or did he never have shares at all? This contradiction only adds to public confusion—the very thing he claims to be fighting.
Ruiz has since clarified that he is not a shareholder of the corporation that won the deal.
But that is beside the point. Whether he is a shareholder, an executive, or a consultant, the issue remains: he was still involved with the company that secured the contract.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
More concerning is that the joint venture partner of the firm that won the deal—IBC 13—is directly under his office. This raises serious questions about conflict of interest.
We have seen government officials claim to have "divested" from companies, only to quietly reacquire their stakes after leaving office. Magpapaloko pa ba tayo sa lumang tugtugin na ito?
Ruiz’s involvement in this deal and the lack of full disclosure warrant closer scrutiny.
The Commission on Appointments must dig deeper into his dealings with the government. Are there more transactions he has yet to disclose? The public deserves to know.
We have nothing personal against Mr. Ruiz, our only demand is transparency in his dealings. Now that he has accepted a top government position, he can no longer invoke secrecy.
This involves public funds, and the people have the right to know the full extent of his involvement in government contracts.
FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
Beyond his missteps, Ruiz has failed at the most basic function of his office: to generate goodwill for the President and effectively communicate the administration’s programs.
Instead of highlighting how President Marcos’ policies are helping Filipinos, Ruiz has been busy defending himself, using government access and his official platform to address controversies rather than communicating the government’s accomplishments.
A competent PCO Chief should focus on crafting a clear, persuasive, and strategic communication plan that promotes the government’s work and strengthens public trust.
The job demands someone with a deep understanding of governance, a strong grasp of messaging, and the ability to command credibility.
Unfortunately, Ruiz has yet to demonstrate these qualities.
We have been supportive of the government’s programs and officials we see fit, including President Bongbong Marcos.
But we should not be blind followers. As citizens, journalists, and Filipinos, it is our duty to speak out when we see something wrong and to advise the President when corrections are needed.
LACK OF DELICADEZA
In my view, Ruiz has not shown the acumen, strategic thinking, or transparency required to lead the PCO.
His series of missteps, reactionary decisions, and poor grasp of governance and public relations raise doubts about his suitability for the role.
Lastly, at the heart of this controversy is delicadeza, a virtue that cannot be bought, negotiated, or conveniently set aside when it becomes inconvenient. Either you have it, or you don’t.
A public official with delicadeza would have voluntarily disclosed any potential conflict of interest from the start, rather than waiting for the issue to explode in public.
A person with delicadeza would have stepped back, knowing that even the slightest perception of impropriety could erode trust in the institution they serve.
Instead, Ruiz chose to dodge, deny, and downplay the issue, only addressing it after he was caught. That alone speaks volumes about his suitability for public office.
A communications secretary must be precise, disciplined, and transparent. Ruiz has not met these standards.
If the government wants to combat disinformation and restore public trust, President Marcos must replace Jay Ruiz before he causes more damage.
-xxx-
Ed Javier is a veteran communicator with over 34 years of professional experience both in the private and public sectors. He is also an entrepreneur, political analyst, newspaper columnist, broadcast and online journalist.
Yet, under its new chief, Jay Ruiz, it seems to be doing the opposite.
Instead of ensuring government messaging is clear and credible, Ruiz himself has become a source of confusion, misstatements, and ethical concerns.
RECKLESS SABAH STATEMENT
One of the biggest responsibilities of the PCO is to protect national interests through proper messaging.
However, in a stunning display of ignorance recently, Ruiz misrepresented the Philippines’ long-standing claim over Sabah, suggesting that the country had already “lost” the territory.
Senator Robin Padilla publicly corrected Ruiz, reaffirming that the Philippines has not abandoned its claim.
This raises a serious concern: If Malaysia were to officially cite Ruiz’s statement as confirmation of their ownership of Sabah, would this not impact diplomatic relations?
It is likely that the Department of Foreign Affairs would strongly object to such an implication.
If the government’s chief communicator spreads misleading information, how can the public trust the PCO to fight disinformation?
Ruiz has repeatedly warned about the dangers of fake news, saying that lies repeated a thousand times become the truth.
But his own words show that the bigger risk to national unity isn’t just online disinformation, it’s the failure of the government’s top communicator to get the facts straight.
Instead of crafting a credible strategy to counter fake news, Ruiz is making statements that create more confusion than clarity.
P200-MILLION CONTRACT
His credibility was further questioned when reports surfaced linking him to a company that secured a P200-million government contract—something he did not disclose until it became public.
When the issue came to light, a subordinate claimed Ruiz was in the process of divesting his ownership in the company.
Days later, Ruiz himself stated there was nothing to divest because he never held shares in the first place.
So, which is it? Was he divesting, or did he never have shares at all? This contradiction only adds to public confusion—the very thing he claims to be fighting.
Ruiz has since clarified that he is not a shareholder of the corporation that won the deal.
But that is beside the point. Whether he is a shareholder, an executive, or a consultant, the issue remains: he was still involved with the company that secured the contract.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
More concerning is that the joint venture partner of the firm that won the deal—IBC 13—is directly under his office. This raises serious questions about conflict of interest.
We have seen government officials claim to have "divested" from companies, only to quietly reacquire their stakes after leaving office. Magpapaloko pa ba tayo sa lumang tugtugin na ito?
Ruiz’s involvement in this deal and the lack of full disclosure warrant closer scrutiny.
The Commission on Appointments must dig deeper into his dealings with the government. Are there more transactions he has yet to disclose? The public deserves to know.
We have nothing personal against Mr. Ruiz, our only demand is transparency in his dealings. Now that he has accepted a top government position, he can no longer invoke secrecy.
This involves public funds, and the people have the right to know the full extent of his involvement in government contracts.
FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
Beyond his missteps, Ruiz has failed at the most basic function of his office: to generate goodwill for the President and effectively communicate the administration’s programs.
Instead of highlighting how President Marcos’ policies are helping Filipinos, Ruiz has been busy defending himself, using government access and his official platform to address controversies rather than communicating the government’s accomplishments.
A competent PCO Chief should focus on crafting a clear, persuasive, and strategic communication plan that promotes the government’s work and strengthens public trust.
The job demands someone with a deep understanding of governance, a strong grasp of messaging, and the ability to command credibility.
Unfortunately, Ruiz has yet to demonstrate these qualities.
We have been supportive of the government’s programs and officials we see fit, including President Bongbong Marcos.
But we should not be blind followers. As citizens, journalists, and Filipinos, it is our duty to speak out when we see something wrong and to advise the President when corrections are needed.
LACK OF DELICADEZA
In my view, Ruiz has not shown the acumen, strategic thinking, or transparency required to lead the PCO.
His series of missteps, reactionary decisions, and poor grasp of governance and public relations raise doubts about his suitability for the role.
Lastly, at the heart of this controversy is delicadeza, a virtue that cannot be bought, negotiated, or conveniently set aside when it becomes inconvenient. Either you have it, or you don’t.
A public official with delicadeza would have voluntarily disclosed any potential conflict of interest from the start, rather than waiting for the issue to explode in public.
A person with delicadeza would have stepped back, knowing that even the slightest perception of impropriety could erode trust in the institution they serve.
Instead, Ruiz chose to dodge, deny, and downplay the issue, only addressing it after he was caught. That alone speaks volumes about his suitability for public office.
A communications secretary must be precise, disciplined, and transparent. Ruiz has not met these standards.
If the government wants to combat disinformation and restore public trust, President Marcos must replace Jay Ruiz before he causes more damage.
-xxx-
Ed Javier is a veteran communicator with over 34 years of professional experience both in the private and public sectors. He is also an entrepreneur, political analyst, newspaper columnist, broadcast and online journalist.
Mar 23, 2025
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