Bagong PCO chief, wagi sa P206-M PCSO deal? JAY RUIZ DARAAN SA BUTAS NG KARAYOM SA COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS

IGINIIT ni Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero na dapat ay nag-divest na si Jay Ruiz sa mga pribadong kompanya bago ang kanyang appointment bilang Presidential Communications Office Secretary upang maiwasan ang “conflict of interest.”

“Any conflict of interest ng isang taong galing sa pribadong sektor pagpasok sa pamahalaan ay dapat bitiwan niya at ma-divest siya para hindi manatili ang conflict of interest na ‘yun. I think before he was appointed, he should have been vetted already and it should have been done before his appointment,” ayon kay Escudero.

Ang pinuno ng Senado ay tinanong na magkomento sa isang ulat na nagsasabing ang Digital8, isang kumpanya ng media na sinasabing co-founded ni Ruiz, ay umano’y nakakuha ng kontrata na nagkakahalaga ng P206.052 milyon mula sa Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) noong huling bahagi ng 2024, ilang buwan bago ang kanyang pagkalaga sa PCO.

Sinabi ni Escudero na maaaring talakayin ang isyung ito sa pagdinig ng Commission on Appointments tungkol sa pagkatalaga kay Ruiz.

“It’s possible that it will be taken up in the Commission on Appointments for as long as the documents are submitted and there is a complainant, and if there is a member of the CA that will bring it up,” saad ni Escudero, na siya ring chairman ng CA.

Ngunit ayon sa PCO, hindi naging incorporator si Ruiz sa Digital 8 media company, na nakasungkit kontrata sa PCSO at IBC, isang attached agency ng PCO.

“Secretary Jay Ruiz was not an incorporator or director of Digital 8 and has never owned any shares in the company. He was merely Digital8’s authorized representative to the joint venture (JV) agreement due to his position as head of its sales and marketing,” sabi ng PCO sa isang kalatas.

“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.”

Anang PCO, nagbitiw na si Ruiz sa kompanya noong 15 Enero 2025 at pinalitan umano siya bilang kinatawan sa joint venture ng PCSO at IBC sa pamamagitan ng isang board resolution o mahigit isang buwan bago siya naitalaga bilang kalihim ng kagawaran.

Giit ng PCO, “there is no existing conflict interest in this case” by citing Section 3(i) of Republic Act 6713 which states that “Conflict of interest arises when a public official or employee is a member of a board, an officer, or a substantial stockholder of a private corporation or owner or has a substantial interest in a business, and the interest of such corporation or business, or his rights or duties therein, may be opposed to or affected by the faithful performance of official duty.”

Ang nakasaad sa kalatas ng  PCO ay taliwas sa pahayag ni Palace Press Officer at PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro na nasa proseso na nang pag-divest sa Digital 8 si Ruiz.

”Ang batas naman po natin ay allowed po mag-divest ng shares o interest sa anumang kumpanya na pag-aari niya within 60 days from the time na nag-assume ng position so ‘yan po ay parating na po at alam naman po niya ang batas at lahat naman po ng gagawin natin dito ay dapat naaayon sa batas,” sabi ni Castro.

”Sa pagkakaalam ko ay in the process na po dahil pine-prepare na po niya ang kanyang mga papers regarding [that],” dagdag niya