PAPI Appeals to PBBM: Retain Jay Ruiz as PCO Secretary

“Changing the guards mid-game sends the wrong signal,” warns PAPI President Nelson Santos

The Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI), one of the country’s largest and oldest media organizations, is appealing to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to retain Secretary Jay Ruiz as head of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), citing his professionalism, journalistic integrity, and stabilizing presence in a crucial time for government messaging.

In a statement, PAPI President Nelson Santos expressed confidence in Ruiz’s capacity to lead the PCO amid swirling political noise and public pressure.

“While we fully respect the ongoing evaluation being conducted on Secretary Ruiz, we believe that changing the guards in the middle of the ballgame does not bode well for the administration—especially at a time when coherent, credible communication is most needed,” Santos said.

Ruiz, a veteran field reporter and highly respected broadcast journalist, brings with him decades of experience from the front line of news coverage. His deep understanding of both the media landscape and public sentiment, Santos noted, are rare qualities that perfectly match the demands of a modern-day PCO Secretary.

“We in the community press and mainstream media alike have witnessed Secretary Ruiz’s commitment to fairness, truth, and the free flow of accurate information,” Santos added. “At a time when misinformation runs rampant, we need someone who not only knows the job—but has walked the beat.”

Santos also cautioned against the optics of frequent leadership changes in the PCO, noting that Ruiz is already the fourth press secretary since 2022.

“Another replacement at this juncture will not look good for the administration, especially now that it is beset by criticisms from various political sectors. Stability in government communication is not a luxury—it is a necessity,” he emphasized.

PAPI’s appeal joins the growing chorus of support from media practitioners and communication professionals who view Ruiz’s leadership as a much-needed anchor in the government’s information efforts.

“We ask the President to weigh not just politics but performance. Secretary Ruiz has the media’s trust—and that is one currency no public servant can afford to lose,” Santos concluded.