FORMER executive secretary Victor Rodriguez confirmed on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, that he is completely no longer part of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“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,” he said in a statement.
On Tuesday, October 4, Rodriguez’s successor, former Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, said he is no longer part of the administration, denying the existence of an administrative order supposedly reassigning the latter as the Presidential Chief of Staff.
Rodriguez also explained his silence over several issues hounding his position over the past months.
“As for my continued silence on matters related to my previous position as the executive secretary, the fundamental reason for this is the fact that all communications that have transpired between the President and myself are absolutely privileged, something which I shall continue to honor in full recognition of and respect to both the Office of the President and the Office of the Executive Secretary,” he said.
“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 added.
Rodriguez said it has been an honor serving the country and he will continue doing it as a private citizen.
He also vowed to continuously support Marcos, to whom he served as a long-time aid. (SunStar Philippines)