Former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez (File photo)
MANILA – Resigned Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez on Wednesday said he is no longer part of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration.
In a statement, Rodriguez announced that his “complete exit” from the Marcos administration is a “personal decision” to have more time with his family.
“I confirm that I have completely exited the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, after having spoken to him at length about my wish to spend most of my time with my family…a very personal decision that was happily made,” Rodriguez said in a statement uploaded on his official Facebook page.
He issued the statement, a day after Malacañang announced that there is no official document delegating him as Presidential Chief of Staff (PCS).
Rodriguez initially announced on Sept. 17 that he stepped down as Executive Secretary to assume his new role as PCS, a position created under Administrative Order (AO) 1 supposedly signed by the President.
However, there is no AO 1 formally appointing Rodriguez as Marcos’ chief of staff, newly-installed Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Tuesday.
Rodriguez’s resignation came after his name was dragged into the controversial issuance of unauthorized sugar import order.
Rodriguez said he has kept his silence on issues related to his post as Executive secretary because of his “privileged” communications with Marcos.
He said he would stay silent about his classified conversations with Marcos to “honor in full recognition of and respect to both the Office of the President and the Office of the Executive Secretary.”
“I have been ridiculed, maligned and subjected to baseless and unfair commentaries on all conceivable platforms, but I take solace in the legal aphorism, ‘Men in public life may suffer under a hostile or unjust accusation; the wound can be assuaged with the balm of a clear conscience,’” he said.
Rodriguez also vowed that while he is now a private citizen, he will continue serving the public.
“It has been an honor to have served the country. Ako po ay magpapatuloy maglingkod bilang pribadong mamamayan sa abot ng aking munting kakayanan. Atin pong suportahan si Pangulong Bongbong Marcos at ang ating bansang Pilipinas (I will continue to serve the country as a private citizen to the best of my ability. Let us support President Marcos and the entire Philippines),” he said.
Rodriguez was Marcos’ long-time chief of staff and spokesperson before being named as Executive Secretary in May. (PNA)
