Andanar remains as PCOO chief

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar will remain as chief of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) for now, according to presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.

“I think until such time as the OPS is created, the PCOO with him at the helm is still operational as an entity,” Panelo said yesterday, referring to the Office of the Press Secretary.

The OPS will be directly under the Office of the President while the PCOO has its own structure and budget estimated at P1.4 billion for 2019.

Andanar said the status quo remains at the agency until the reorganization is formalized. He confirmed that he would remain at the helm of the PCOO and its operations.

President Duterte has yet to sign an executive order that will revert the operations of the PCOO to the OPS, which was earlier recommended by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sens. Panfilo Lacson and Gregorio Honasan.

Sotto moved for the need to reorganize the PCOO to make it more efficient.

Panelo formally assumed as presidential spokesman on Friday, replacing Harry Roque Jr., who has yet to decide whether to pursue his senatorial ambition or not.

Panelo said there is no word yet on new appointments on posts to be vacated by Cabinet members who will be running in next year’s elections.