Presidential spokesperson (Philippines)

Last updated

Spokesperson of the president of the Philippines
Tagapagsalita ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas
Appointer President of the Philippines
Term length At the President’s pleasure
Formation1998
AbolishedJune 30, 2022

The presidential spokesperson was a government official whose primary responsibility was to serve as the speaking representative of the president of the Philippines. The press secretary (previously the secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office) has historically assumed the role. [1]

Contents

History

The president of the Philippines has been considered as the communicator-in-chief – with the chief executive's speeches and statements reflective of Philippine government policy. Starting from the administration of President Manuel L. Quezon, communications of the president has been supported by the presidential staff. The Executive Secretary, since from the time of the first officeholder, Jorge B. Vargas has served a dual role of presidential spokesperson and de facto press secretary. [1]

President Elpidio Quirino was the first chief executive to institutionalize the presidential communications functions in a team, by establishing the Philippine Information Council. The Press Secretary's role during Quirino's term was defined as "serves as the presidential spokesman and his functions include issuing press releases and statements for the President and other related matters". President Ferdinand Marcos' administration was aided by the Press Secretary, Information Minister, the National Media Production Board head, and the President's Center for Strategic Studies head. [1]

President Corazon Aquino established the presidential spokesperson as a distinct position, appointing Rene Saguisag to the role. [1] In 1987, the post of press secretary was revived. The posts of presidential spokesperson and press secretary has been erratic; it has been dissolved, altered, and revived. [2]

President Joseph Estrada abolished the role of presidential spokesperson through Memorandum Order No. 97, issued on April 24, 2000 and transfers the duties associated to the role to the press secretary. His successor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo restored the position of presidential spokesperson. [1]

On June 30, 2022, President Bongbong Marcos issued Executive Order No. 2, which abolished the said position once again. All powers and functions were transferred to the Office of the Press Secretary. [3]

Role

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella speaking at a press briefing at the Malacanang Palace Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella during a press briefing in Malacanan.jpg
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella speaking at a press briefing at the Malacañang Palace

The presidential spokesperson task is to speaks in behalf of the president of the Philippines on matters of "public interest, among other things". The officeholder often serves as the primary source of presidential directives in the absence of the president. [1]

According to Harry Roque, one of people who became presidential spokesperson for President Rodrigo Duterte, the role requires to set aside one's personal stances and to relay the positions of the president. He assuming the position itself, has been subject of controversy. [4]

Appointees to the presidential spokesperson role has never been subject to confirmation by the Congress. [1] During the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles assumed the role of presidential spokesperson.

List

Prior to 1998

Rene Saguisag served as President Corazon Aquino's initial spokesman until his resignation in 1987 to run for Senator. Adolfo Azcuna also served as Aquino's spokesman. [5] [6]

1998–2022

PortraitNameTerm BeganTerm EndedPresident
Jerry Barican [7] 19982000 Joseph Ejercito Estrada
Renato Corona official portrait.jpg Renato Corona [8] [9] 20012002 Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Rigoberto TiglaoApril 2002 [9] 2002
IgnacioBunye.jpg Ignacio Bunye January 20, 2003 [10] 2008
President Arroyo is welcomed by Senate President Enrile - Eduardo Ermita (cropped).jpg Eduardo Ermita May 20, 2008 [11] June 30, 2010
Edwin Lacierda (crop).jpg Edwin Lacierda June 30, 2010June 30, 2016 Benigno S. Aquino III
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella clarifies during a press briefing in Malacanan (cropped).jpg Ernesto Abella June 30, 2016October 30, 2017 Rodrigo Duterte
Harry Roque in 2017 - 2017111-ph01-ALCAIN-1 (cropped).jpg Harry Roque October 30, 2017October 15, 2018
Atty. Salvador "Sal" Panelo (cropped).png Salvador Panelo October 15, 2018April 13, 2020
Harry Roque in 2017 - 2017111-ph01-ALCAIN-1 (cropped).jpg Harry Roque April 13, 2020November 15, 2021
Karlo Nograles (cropped).png Karlo Nograles (Acting)November 15, 2021March 7, 2022
Martin Andanar 2018 (cropped).jpg Martin Andanar (Acting)March 8, 2022June 30, 2022
Office abolished by virtue of Executive Order No. 2, s. 2022. All powers and functions transferred to the Office of the Press Secretary. Bongbong Marcos

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bongbong Marcos</span> President of the Philippines since 2022

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr., commonly referred to by the initials PBBM or BBM, is a Filipino politician who is the 17th and current President of the Philippines. He previously served as a senator from 2010 to 2016. He is the second child and only son of tenth President, kleptocrat and dictator Ferdinand Marcos and former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberal Party (Philippines)</span> Liberal political party in the Philippines

The Liberal Party, abbreviated as the LP, is a liberal political party in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vice President of the Philippines</span> Deputy head of state and head of government of the Philippines

The vice president of Republic of the Philippines is the second-highest official in the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the first in the presidential line of succession. The vice president is directly elected by the citizens of the Philippines and is one of only two nationally elected executive officials, the other being the president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregorio Honasan</span> Filipino politician

Gregorio "Gringo" Ballesteros Honasan II, is a Filipino politician and a cashiered Philippine Army officer who led unsuccessful coups d'état against President Corazon Aquino. He played a key role in the 1986 EDSA Revolution that toppled President Ferdinand Marcos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First ladies and gentlemen of the Philippines</span> Courtesy title given to the host of the Malacañang Palace, usually the spouse of the President

The first lady or first gentleman of the Philippines is the courtesy title given to the host or hostess of Malacañang Palace, the residence of the head of state and head of government of the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Philippines (1986–present)</span>

This article covers the history of the current Philippine republican state following the 1986 People Power Revolution, known as the Fifth Philippine Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidential Communications Group</span> Offices within the Office of the President of the Philippines

The Presidential Communications Group, or simply the Communications Group, is the collective name for the offices within the Office of the President of the Philippines and refers to the position of the Secretary of Presidential Communications Office formerly known as Office of the Press Secretary and the Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). The office of the presidential spokesperson was previously under the Communications Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rene Saguisag</span> Filipino politician

Rene Augusto Verceluz Saguisag is a Filipino lawyer and politician. He served as a Senator from 1987 until 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine presidential inauguration</span> Swearing into office of the President-elect of the Philippines

The inauguration of the president of the Republic of the Philippines is a ceremony marking the commencement of the six-year term of a president of the Philippines, who is both head of state and head of government. The inauguration is performed on June 30, as mandated by the 1987 Constitution. Under the older 1935 Constitution, the date was December 30, which is also Rizal Day; the last inauguration held on the older date was Ferdinand Marcos' second one on December 30, 1969. The most recent public presidential inauguration ceremony was that of President Bongbong Marcos, who began his six-year term in office on Thursday, June 30, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Abalos Jr.</span> Filipino lawyer and politician

Benjamin "Benhur" de Castro Abalos Jr. is a Filipino lawyer, politician, and broadcaster serving as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government since 2022. Before his appointment as DILG secretary, he last served as the Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) under the Duterte administration from 2021 to 2022. Previously, he served as the five-term city mayor, as congressman and as councilor of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. He is the son of Benjamin Abalos, a former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and MMDA chairman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Philippine presidential election</span>

The 2016 Philippine presidential and vice presidential elections were held on Monday, May 9, 2016, as part of the 2016 general election. This was the 16th direct presidential election in the Philippines since 1935 and the fifth sextennial presidential election since 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solid North</span> Voting bloc in the Philippines

The Solid North refers to the regional voting bloc of the northern provinces of the Philippines for politicians of Ilocano descent, more particularly the Marcos family and their allies, and also economic issues affecting the Ilocanos in general such as the tobacco industry. Often included in Solid North are the provinces in the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Cagayan Valley. The regions are considered to be a conservative/right-wing bastion for the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabinet Secretariat of the Philippines</span> Philippines government position

The Cabinet Secretariat, formerly the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, was a member agency of the Cabinet of the Philippines which provided support to the President, facilitated the exchange of information, as well as discussed and resolved issues among Cabinet members. The Cabinet Secretary also acted as a coordinator and integrator of the initiatives of the President. The Cabinet Secretariat was created through Executive Order No. 237, s. 1987.

Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation (PHILCOMSAT) is a telecommunications company based in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines. Its main teleport is in the province of Rizal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menardo Guevarra</span> Solicitor General of the Philippines

Menardo Ilasco Guevarra is a Filipino lawyer serving as Solicitor General of the Philippines since 2022 under President Bongbong Marcos. He previously served as the Secretary of Justice under President Rodrigo Duterte and as a commissioner of the Philippine Competition Commission under President Benigno Aquino III. Before joining the government, he was involved in private litigation practice as a founding partner of the Medialdea Ata Bello Guevarra & Suarez law firm since 1990. He was also an active faculty member at his alma mater Ateneo de Manila University, where he graduated in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vic Rodriguez (lawyer)</span> Filipino lawyer

Victor Dayrit Rodriguez is a Filipino lawyer who served as the Executive Secretary from June to September 2022 in President Bongbong Marcos' administration, and previously served as Marcos' campaign spokesperson. He was also the executive vice president and general campaign manager of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas during the Marcos 2022 campaign.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Presidential Communications Reforms". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  2. ↑ Ledesma, Jun (March 1, 2021). "PNA survives the vagaries of time and politics". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Executive Order No. 2, s. 2022". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. June 30, 2022.
  4. ↑ Robles, Laisa (September 17, 2021). "Duterte spokesman who mocked the UN now hopes they'll give him a job". South China Morning Post. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  5. ↑ "8 Aquino Senate Nominees Must Quit Cabinet". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  6. ↑ Pedrasa, Ira (July 25, 2021). "The good Adolf: Second retirement yet to slow down Azcuna". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Former Palace spokesman dies". Rappler. October 3, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  8. ↑ Villanueva, Marichu; Araneta, Sandy (February 16, 2001). "Carague is COA chief; Benipayo named Comelec chairman". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  9. 1 2 "GMA to Tiglao: Substance, not glitz, please". The Philippine Star. April 21, 2001. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  10. ↑ "The President's Day: January 20, 2003". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. January 20, 2003. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Ermita is new Arroyo spokesman". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 13, 2010. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.