Andanar denies he’s on way out

MANILA, Philippines - Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar belied yesterday that he is on his way out after delegating some of his powers to presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella.

“There is a reorganization and it happens in government,” Andanar said in a radio interview, explaining that he met with Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go on his plans to reorganize the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and revert this to the Office of the Press Secretary.

He insisted though that he is still at the helm of the PCOO and its attached agencies.

 Andanar said he gave Abella the “bulk of the work  (on messaging) content.”

“I told Special Assistant Go that I need to focus on the department agencies to reach our objectives,” he added.

When asked by radio announcer Erwin Tulfo over reports that he crashed a media gathering set by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Andanar said he merely accepted Pimentel’s invitation.

He parried insinuations that he got a cold shoulder treatment from the Senate media who asked for apology over an insinuation that they got $1,000 for the coverage of a press briefing with Arthur Lascanas, a self-confessed Davao death squad member.

“Every day we could have different stories, different issues. More important is we keep our friends and we move forward. Tomorrow is going to be a different issue,” Andanar said.

Pressed if he will apologize, he stood firm on his previous statement where he claimed not to have accused any particular media practitioner of accepting bribes.

“I am doing my job of protecting the President. That is my duty as press secretary and to run the agencies under the Presidential Communications Operations Office,” Andanar said.

He said he would be busy instituting changes at the International Press Center and modernizing the Philippine News Agency.

“It’s about time to shift to second gear,” Andanar added.

He said he is working on having an integrated news room for PTV, Radyo  ng Bayan, Philippine Information Agency and PNA. 

Also within the PCOO deliverables for 2017 are the groundbreaking of the Mindanao broadcast hub in Davao City, FM1 or the FM station for the youth and the setting up of PIA kiosks in domestic and international airports, among others.