'Nothing personal in call for resignation'

(UPDATE) MALACAÑANG's directive calling for the courtesy resignation of presidential appointees in the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is "nothing personal," the agency's newly appointed Ad Interim Secretary Jay Ruiz said on Monday. In a chance interview, Ruiz explained that the circular from Executive Secretary Luis Bersamin in late February was meant to give him a free hand to choose people he can best work with. "It's important that I choose people I trust. It would be hard if I don't really know them. Of course, as secretary, it would help if I bring in my own people," Ruiz, a veteran broadcast journalist, said in Filipino. "For me, it's nothing personal. Many would be affected by this but of course we will assess their performance, there will be a proper evaluation," he added. Bersamin's memo, issued on February 25, stated that the courtesy resignations be submitted to the PCO secretary not later than February 28. Ruiz said it would take him two to three weeks to finish the assessment of the departments and attached agencies of the PCO. Social media Ruiz said he was considering establishing a "regulatory body" for social media to address problems brought about by disinformation and misinformation. "I think it's about time for us to have regulation, or if not regulation, at least let vloggers and those on social media know that they have a responsibility to the public," he said. Ruiz said that while the television and film industry has the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) that classifies and reviews TV programs, motion pictures, and home videos, and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), social media has no such regulatory body. "Why are we allowing the proliferation of fake news online? Is that right? But the point here is, if you're a vlogger or social media influencer, you must also accept that you have a responsibility — greater responsibility — to the public," he said. One of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s marching orders to Ruiz is to fight fake news. To accomplish this, the PCO must be authorized to take legal action against those who spread false narratives, especially regarding sensitive issues like public safety, national security, and government announcements. In a separate briefing, Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro said having a separate regulatory body would help unmask abusive content creators and "keyboard warriors." "That's our suggestion. We hope there will be a regulatory body so we'd know if they are a content creator, vlogger, blogger — for us to know the identity instead of them hiding behind dummy accounts," Castro said. "We will not stop them from expressing their opinions, because that is the law. Legitimate opinion, whether it's criticism, that must always be respected. But it is different when you malign with basis and troll armies use their platforms for abuse. If there are troll armies and their advocacy is to destroy, that's a different matter," she said. Castro also said that Ruiz is in the process of divesting from his business interests, particularly those related to media to prevent a conflict of interest. Ruiz is a co-founder of Digital 8 Inc., a media company which supposedly bagged a P206-million contract with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for the broadcast of its lotto draws over the state-run IBC 13 channel late last year. By law, government appointees must dissociate from their ties with private companies and business entities within 60 days of assuming public positions. "Our law allows the divesting of shares or interest from any privately-owned company within 60 days from the time one assumed a position. So, that is forthcoming," Castro said.