Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 17)— Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez has stepped down from his post, Malacañang confirmed on Saturday.
“[He] stepped down from his position as ‘primus inter pares’ after he got permission from President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to do so,” the Palace said in a statement.
In a separate post, Rodriguez thanked Marcos for his continued trust and for understanding his decision.
He cited family reasons, noting how the work is a “24/7 job.”
“It demands a sense of urgency which essentially requires almost all of a public servant’s time to ensure that services are met and delivered,” Rodriguez said.
“Equally valuable, however, is to witness first-hand your young family grow and evolve into how every parent would wish them to become and they most need me too,” he added.
Presidential chief of staff
Despite leaving his post, Rodriguez said he will continue to serve as Marcos’ presidential chief of staff.
This is a new position created through Administrative Order No. 1 recently signed by the chief executive, according to the Palace.
“The Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff shall have the primary function of supervising and ensuring the efficient and responsive day-to-day operational support to the presidency to enable the President to focus on strategic national concerns,” it said.
The presidential chief of staff will have the rank of a Cabinet secretary.
Office personnel shall come from abolished agencies like the Office of the Cabinet Secretary and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, Malacañang noted.
Rodriguez — in the early days of the Marcos administration — faced rumors that he resigned from his post, which he denied back then. His short stint as Executive Secretary was hounded by the issue on the sugar importation order, but the Blue Ribbon Committee headed by Sen. Francis Tolentino has cleared him from the fiasco.
The Palace has yet to announce Rodriguez’ replacement, but bared that some names are already being considered.
