MANILA, Philippines – Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said President Rodrigo Duterte has not yet offered him another post after the election of a few Cabinet members into electoral positions.

“The President has not talked to me about moving to another department or any agency,” he told reporters on Friday, May 24, at the unveiling of the new Radio-Television Malacañang logo in the Malacañang grounds.

There had been talk since October 2018 that he might be asked to take over the post of presidential adviser on political affairs, the former position of senator-elect Francis Tolentino.

“It’s difficult to consider something that has not been offered to you,” said Andanar.

There have also been recent moves to defund the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and revive the Office of the Press Secretary, which might also spell a change in role for Andanar.

Duterte, back in October 2018, had said he wanted Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo to become press secretary and that he might keep Andanar on as a “consultant” to help with state-run media.

“He will remain a consultant…. Well, there’s so many things that they have to reconfigure, their programs sa PTV 4. Maraming baguhin diyan siguro to make it more responsive as a sounding board for the Republic of the Philippines parang ganun (A lot has to be changed their to make it more responsive as a sounding board for the Republic of the Philippines),” Duterte had said.

But during the 2019 campaign season, Andanar had been active in campaigning for PDP-Laban senatorial bets, especially former presidential aide and now senator-elect Bong Go.

Duterte admits allowing Andanar to join the campaign because of the Cabinet member’s close ties to PDP-Laban.

“Andanar, he’s an ideologue. His guidance is very important to all of the PDP members. He’s a son of one of the founding fathers of PDP-Laban, and there are only few of them left, original,” said Duterte.

The President was referring to Wencelito Andanar, Secretary Andanar’s father, who had supposedly been a PDP-Laban officer in its early days. Duterte had appointed the older Andanar as his special envoy to Malaysia.

Erwin Tulfo as press secretary?

Andanar was asked if his former colleague at TV5, anchor Erwin Tulfo, is being considered for press secretary.

The PCOO chief said he has no personal knowledge of any offer to Tulfo. But he vouched for Tulfo’s competence.

“I think he’s qualified to be the next press secretary, if you ask me,” said Andanar.

Asked why he felt Tulfo would be a good choice, Andanar pointed to Tulfo’s years of experience in the media and his large following.

“He’s been in the media for ages. He started in print then he went to radio then he did TV, he became an anchor. It seems wherever he goes, from ABS-CBN to TV5 and now to government, he has the trust of millions of Filipinos and basically he has a huge following and by that alone, talagang mabigat na ang kanyang credibility (his credibility is weighty),” said Andanar.

A draft executive order reviving the Office of the Press Secretary is awaiting Duterte’s signature. It was submitted to the Office of the President by Andanar, who supports the change.

Meanwhile, Panelo is serving as both Duterte’s spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel. – Rappler.com