Communications Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar (File photo)
MANILA – Acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar has no plans to move to a television station owned by former Senator Manny Villar after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte steps down from office in June 2022.
In an interview over PolitikoTV Channel on Wednesday, Andanar said he has not received any offers to join Villar's Advanced Media Broadcasting Systems (AMBS).
He also denied that he had plans of joining Villar’s TV station, despite previously saying that he will again join private media.
Andanar did not elaborate but acknowledged that he has “friends” in every other TV station.
During the “Ratatat” (Ratsadang tanong, tapatan, tarantahan) portion of the interview where he would be asked to pick one among choices, Andanar was asked to choose among radio, TV, social media, and radio. He picked radio but did not elaborate.
Asked to choose among the country’s top TV stations namely Kapamilya (ABS-CBN), Kapuso (GMA), Kapatid (TV5), and Kapamella (AMBS), he picked the Kapatid station.
Prior to his appointment as Communications chief, Andanar headed the News5 Everywhere, the online news video and audio portal of TV5.
Despite enjoying his job as Communications secretary, Andanar said the job was exhausting.
“Itong last five years and seven months ay parang na-drain ka talaga e (The last five years and seven months really drained me),” he said.
Should he be offered another Cabinet post in the next administration, he said he would refuse.
Gratitude
Meanwhile, Andanar said he was grateful for the opportunity given to him by Duterte to be Communications chief and his spokesperson for the next three months.
“I cannot thank the President enough dahil sa binigay niyang opportunity (because of the opportunity he gave me). I like new ideas, I like to create ways of communicating,” he said.
He said he was proud of the accomplishments, especially the construction of the Mindanao Media Hub in Davao City, the groundbreaking ceremony of the Visayas Media Hub in Cebu City, and upcoming operationalization of the Government Communication Academy (GCA).
“I think I was able to implement the things that I’ve thought are good for the government,” he said. “I’m very confident that when we leave the PCOO maraming pagbabago (with many changes).”
Andanar said the one thing he would miss about being part of Duterte’s Cabinet is the President and fellow members of the Cabinet.
“Mamimiss ko si Presidente, si [Senator Christopher] Bong Go. Siyempre six years ‘yan e tapos nakaka-trabaho mo araw-araw. Yung relationship namin hindi lang ni Presidente at SBG kundi lahat ng Cabinet ay mas malalim ngayon kaysa (I will miss the President and Bong Go. I’ve been working with them for six years every day. Our relationship is now deeper than it was) six years ago,” he said. (PNA)
