[UPDATE] Dec 12, 2013 — When there’s smoke, there really is fire.
Just a few days after denying reports on the resignation of Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Sec Ricky Carandang, Malacañang has announced that he has, in fact, resigned.
“On Thursday, Dec 12, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said President Benigno Aquino III has accepted Carandang’s resignation, which will be effective on December 31, 2013,” reports GMA News Online.
Lacierda was quoted as saying, “Secretary Carandang thanked the President for the chance to serve the administration and the country. The President also thanked him for his service to the country.” He added that “Carandang will return to the private sector after a short and well-deserved vacation.”
With Carandang’s exit, Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III, the most senior official of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, will oversee the office’s operations.
Dec 6, 2013 — Where are these resignation rumors coming from, anyway?
“Malacanang belied reports that Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ricky Carandang has resigned,” reports ABS-CBNnews.com.
The resignation rumors most probably started going around because Carandang, as well as presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, have not been active in press briefings lately.
That said, Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) announced, “I have verified that Sec. Ricky Carandang has not resigned. He continues to perform his official duties.”
Coloma has recently taken over most of the official briefings for the press.
Photo from Ricky Carandang’s Twitter Page
