Palace: Ruiz follows legal steps to divest shares from ‘co-founded’ firm
Veteran broadcast journalist Jay Ruiz. | PHOTO: Screengrab from Jay Ruiz’s YouTube page, Jay Ruiz Talks @ Sentro
MANILA, Philippines — Newly appointed Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz is now in the process of divesting his shares from his alleged co-founded media firm that secured P206-million contracts from a government agency, PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Monday.
In a Palace briefing, Castro was asked whether Ruiz started divesting his shares from Digital8, his supposed media firm that secured the multi-million deals from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Digital8 was reported to have secured the contract in the last quarter of 2024 or months prior to his appointment as PCO chief.
READ: Jay Ruiz takes oath as PCO chief, vows to fight fake news
Article continues after this advertisement“Ang batas naman po natin ay allowed po ‘no, na mag-divest ng shares or interest sa anumang kumpaniyang pag-aari niya within 60 days from the time na siya ay nag-assume ng posisyon. So, iyan po ay parating na po at alam naman po niya iyong batas at lahat po naman ng gagawin natin dito ay dapat naaayon sa batas,” Castro, who was also designated as Palace Press Officer, responded.
Article continues after this advertisement(Our law allows him to divest shares or interest in any company he owns within 60 days from the time he assumed the position. So, that is coming, and he knows your law, and everything we do here must be in accordance with the law.)
“Sa pagkakaalam ko ay in the process na to divest,” she also said.
(As far as I know, it is in the process to divest.)
She was also asked whether Ruiz has a statement regarding reports pointing out that there might be a conflict of interest in his appointment as PCO secretary.
Castro only responded, “Kung mayroon pong conflict of interest na ngayon ay siya ay na-appoint as secretary ng PCO, talagang dapat matanggal ‘yung conflict of interest at dapat ma-divest.”
(If there is a conflict of interest now that he has been appointed as PCO secretary, the conflict of interest should be removed and divested.)
Ruiz is the fourth PCO chief under the current administration, succeeding Cesar Chavez, Cheloy Garafil, and Trixie Cruz-Angeles.
He is the son of Alfonso J. Ruiz, who served as mayor of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte.
