(File photo)
MANILA – The leadership style of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will be different from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's unconventional approach, Press Secretary-designate Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles said on Friday.
Once he assumes the presidency, Marcos' actions will be "deliberate," Cruz-Angeles said in an interview with UNTV's Get it Straight.
"With this President-elect, hindi katulad ng style ni PRRD na (it's different from the style of PRRD that) he can forge on. Dito, hindi (It's different [for Marcos]). Everything is deliberate, everything is thought of," she said.
While Marcos is "conservative," he is also "very up to date" with technology and global issues, Cruz-Angeles said.
Cruz-Angeles admitted that she is "not close" to Marcos, but ensured that she could fulfill her mandate as the incoming Palace press chief since the President-elect is "very transparent".
"Hindi kami close pero among other things, parati kong inaaral 'yung mga sinasabi niya. Pinakikinggan ko 'yun para alam ko rin kung kailangan pa bang i-explain further 'yung sinabi niya o 'yung quote lang niya ang kailangang ilabas doon sa media (We are not close but among other things, I always review his statements. I listen to him to determine whether I need to explain further what he said or release just his exact statement to the media)," she said.
Her current relationship with Marcos would make it easy for her to remain "objective", Cruz-Angeles added.
As Marcos' press secretary, her job is to keep the public informed about the "truth," she said.
"For me, ilalabas mo ang impormasyon. So, totoo iyan (you will make public the information. So, it's about the truth)," she said.
Cruz-Angeles said Marcos makes it easy to understand certain issues because he could "transform complicated ideas into simpler term[s]."
"Madali siyang kausap eh. At saka no holds barred, kapag tinanong mo ng something, kahit uncomfortable, sasagot pa rin siya (It's easy to talk to him, no holds barred. If you ask him, even if he's uncomfortable, he will still answer)," Cruz-Angeles said.
Better without spokesperson
Cruz-Angeles also believed that it would be better for Marcos not to designate a spokesperson.
She said being Marcos' spokesperson is a "big" responsibility.
"So, ang pagiging (being a [spokesperson]) to PBBM (Marcos) would be a responsibility, too big for most people and only he can do that. Happy ako na hindi ako (I'm happy that I'm not the [spokesperson])," she said.
"I would not have accepted if I was a spokesperson. Iba yung responsibility na 'yun (That's a big responsibility), Cruz-Angeles added.
Reports said former Public Works undersecretary Karen Jimeno and columnist Rigoberto Tiglao are being considered as Marcos' spokesperson.
On Thursday, Cruz-Angeles said Marcos is not bent on appointing a spokesperson. (PNA)
