GMA names publicist as senior consultant

President Arroyo named yesterday her long-time personal publicist, Manila Times publisher Dante Ang, as senior presidential consultant on public relations, who will receive P1 a year for services rendered.

However, the President clarified that Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao will remain as head of her administration’s "communication group" even while he is on leave.

Tiglao flew to Japan yesterday for a six-month teaching job at Kyoto University.

In her weekly radio program yesterday, Mrs. Arroyo said that after much prodding, she was finally able to convince Ang to accept a government position.

"He (Ang) will now be my senior consultant for public relations, but Bubby (Tiglao) will remain on top of the communications group even if he is in Kyoto," she said.

Ang’s official appointment was apparently meant to put an end to rumors that Tiglao’s sudden decision to go on leave was due to professional differences and a brewing turf war between the two men.

The President pointed out that Tiglao and Ang have a good working relationship, particularly in her administration’s communication and information campaign involving the various agencies attached with the Office of the Press Secretary.

Ang is a public relations and advertising man who maintains his own PR firm as well as other businesses. Mrs. Arroyo has been a chief client of Ang’s PR firm even when she was still senator.

When asked to comment on his appointment, Ang said his role as senior consultant is merely a one-peso appointment, which would not entitle him to any salary although he will have a Cabinet rank.

"I am not after any government position," he said.

The President made two other appointments yesterday, naming assistant secretaries to the OPS as recommended by Tiglao.

Former journalist Claro Fernandez was named assistant press secretary for broadcast while lawyer Ricky Alfonso was named assistant press secretary for legislative affairs.

Presidential Management Staff head Silvestre Afable, who has been designated officer-in-charge of the OPS during Tiglao’s leave, said the new appointments were in line with the secretary’s plan to strengthen the office as the "institutional information arm of the government."