Palace: PCO chief Ruiz divesting from media company to avoid conflict of interest
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Palace: PCO chief Ruiz divesting from media company to avoid conflict of interest
Published Mar 03, 2025 01:13 PM PHT
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Updated Mar 03, 2025 05:50 PM PHT

Veteran broadcast journalist Jay Ruiz sworn in as new PCO chief. Presidential Communications Office

MANILA (UPDATED) — The Presidential Communications Office on Monday denied that newly installed PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz owns shares of a media company that has won hundreds of millions of pesos worth of government contracts in 2024.
MANILA (UPDATED) — The Presidential Communications Office on Monday denied that newly installed PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz owns shares of a media company that has won hundreds of millions of pesos worth of government contracts in 2024.
A media report earlier revealed that the media company co-founded by Ruiz had bagged an over P200 million worth of contracts from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for the production and television transmission of the PCSO’s lotto draws and other games in state-run International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), as well as the production and placement of digital promotional videos of the PCSO.
A media report earlier revealed that the media company co-founded by Ruiz had bagged an over P200 million worth of contracts from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for the production and television transmission of the PCSO’s lotto draws and other games in state-run International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), as well as the production and placement of digital promotional videos of the PCSO.
In a statement, the PCO said that the report is “false, inaccurate and misleading.”
In a statement, the PCO said that the report is “false, inaccurate and misleading.”
“Secretary Jay Ruiz was not an incorporator or director of Digital8, and has never owned any shares in the company. He was merely Digital8's authorized representative to the joint venture agreement due to his position as head of its sales and marketing. The JV won the contract through competitive public bidding in October 2024, in full compliance with all rules, regulations and laws pertaining to public bidding,” the statement read.
“Secretary Jay Ruiz was not an incorporator or director of Digital8, and has never owned any shares in the company. He was merely Digital8's authorized representative to the joint venture agreement due to his position as head of its sales and marketing. The JV won the contract through competitive public bidding in October 2024, in full compliance with all rules, regulations and laws pertaining to public bidding,” the statement read.
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The PCO also said that Ruiz “resigned from the company on January 15, 2025 and was replaced as the company's representative to the JV through a board resolution on January 17, 2025, more than a month before he was appointed PCO secretary.”
The PCO also said that Ruiz “resigned from the company on January 15, 2025 and was replaced as the company's representative to the JV through a board resolution on January 17, 2025, more than a month before he was appointed PCO secretary.”
The statement is contrary to the earlier remarks of Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, who said that Ruiz is in the process of divesting his business interests from the media company.
The statement is contrary to the earlier remarks of Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, who said that Ruiz is in the process of divesting his business interests from the media company.
Meanwhile a separate statement, IBC-13 President and CEO Jose Policarpio denied any irregularities with its deal with the PCSO.
Meanwhile a separate statement, IBC-13 President and CEO Jose Policarpio denied any irregularities with its deal with the PCSO.
“IBC-13 was able to submit all needed requirements to qualify for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) project and win the bidding in December 2024 as Single Calculated and Responsive Bidder,” the statement read.
“IBC-13 was able to submit all needed requirements to qualify for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) project and win the bidding in December 2024 as Single Calculated and Responsive Bidder,” the statement read.
“IBC-13 is profoundly affronted by the false information disseminated by some groups with regard to its legal, straightforward, transparent acquisition of the contract to air the PCSO Lotto Draws, and strongly urges the public to trust only in reliable sources of news.”
“IBC-13 is profoundly affronted by the false information disseminated by some groups with regard to its legal, straightforward, transparent acquisition of the contract to air the PCSO Lotto Draws, and strongly urges the public to trust only in reliable sources of news.”
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Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero said the allegations of conflicts of interest against Ruiz could be taken up by the bicameral Commission on Appointments.
Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero said the allegations of conflicts of interest against Ruiz could be taken up by the bicameral Commission on Appointments.
"It's possible it will be taken up in the Commission on Appointments for as long as documents are submitted and there is a complainant or there is a member of the CA that will bring it up," Escudero said.
"It's possible it will be taken up in the Commission on Appointments for as long as documents are submitted and there is a complainant or there is a member of the CA that will bring it up," Escudero said.
Escudero, who also presides over the CA, said the panel would take up the latest appointments to offices in the PCO, Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Escudero, who also presides over the CA, said the panel would take up the latest appointments to offices in the PCO, Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The CA website shows that appointments pending before the CA include those of Vince Dizon for DOTr Secretary; Joel Joseph Sacro Marciano, director General of the Philippine Space Agency; Jaybee Carbonel Ruiz for Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office; Douglas Michael Nocum Mallillin for Commissioner of the Commission on Audit; Luis Meinardo Calano Pañgulayan for Commission of the Civil Service Commission; and Noli Rafol Pipo and Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal for Comelec commissioner.
The CA website shows that appointments pending before the CA include those of Vince Dizon for DOTr Secretary; Joel Joseph Sacro Marciano, director General of the Philippine Space Agency; Jaybee Carbonel Ruiz for Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office; Douglas Michael Nocum Mallillin for Commissioner of the Commission on Audit; Luis Meinardo Calano Pañgulayan for Commission of the Civil Service Commission; and Noli Rafol Pipo and Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal for Comelec commissioner.
"Nais kong paalalahanan yung mga opisyal na ito na para matalakay namin ay kumpletuhin nila yung mga dokumentong kailangan nilang isumite sa Commission on Appointments para maschedule namin," Escudero said.
"Nais kong paalalahanan yung mga opisyal na ito na para matalakay namin ay kumpletuhin nila yung mga dokumentong kailangan nilang isumite sa Commission on Appointments para maschedule namin," Escudero said.
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