President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the Cabinet Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (December 10). (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang announced the resignation of Secretary Ricky Carandang which would take effect on December 31.
President Aquino accepted the resignation of Carandang on Tuesday.
Carandang, who heads the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO), gave no specific reason for his resignation and only said that he is returning to the private sector.
“He just mentioned that he believes that he has done his job, that he would like to return to the private sector and that he will wander the ends of the earth seeking wisdom,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
Undersecretary Manolo Quezon will oversee the operations of the PCDSPO following Carandang’s resignation.
Lacierda said he is saddened by Carandang’s decision to leave government, adding that he has done a “commendable job” in working “behind the scenes and before the cameras to do his part to communicate the President’s message.”
Aquino thanked Carandang for his service, according to Lacierda.
Lacierda could not say for sure if there would be more changes in the Palace’s communications team or whether perceived members of the so-called “Samar” group are staging a take over of the messaging team.
“What other faction?” Lacierda said.
“It’s all up to the President. What will happen to the communications group, it will depend on further discussions with the President.”
“I have no idea what developments would be. It has yet to be discussed with the President.”
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma has been sharing Lacierda’s and Valte’s duties of facing the Palace press corps in daily briefings.
But Lacierda squelched rumors that he, along with deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, are going to resign too.
“I will return to the private sector in 2016. That’s the most definite date I can give you,” Lacierda said.(MNS)