President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has retained National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Ano and Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz after their performance assessment.

In a Malacanang press conference on Tuesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Casto confirmed that Ano and Ruiz were allowed to continue their duties.

Castro assured that the PCO’s work on fighting fake news will not be affected by the president’s decision regarding Ruiz.

“Whoever leads PCO, as directed by the President ? will fight and stop as much fake news as possible,” Castro added.

Castro also said that the President recognized that Ano was facing health issues since the COVID-19 pandemic yet allowed him to continue his duties if his wellbeing allows.

“According to the President and I quote, “Secretary Ano has been having to deal with health issues ever since the time of the pandemic; however, he has kindly agreed to stay on in the NSC as he feels.” And the President agrees, our President agrees that he can continue to do the job he has been doing. Secretary Ano may stay as long as his health allows,” Castro confirmed.

Marcos said in a media interview following the oath-taking ceremony of Associate Justice Raul Villanueva of the Supreme Court on Tuesday that undersecretaries of the various government departments and heads of agencies will also be included in the Cabinet revamp, which will now be an ongoing process.

“We’re on undersecretaries now, we’re in agencies. What essentially what you call ? what you refer to as a Cabinet revamp is not a one shot ? one-time, big-time thing. It is an ongoing thing. This is something… it is essentially putting all government agencies, departments on notice that we have to do better. And we will be looking very closely, and we will make that review on a period basis or maybe a quarterly basis,” Marcos said.

President Marcos ordered on March 21 for members of his cabinet to submit courtesy resignations to give him leeway to evaluate their performance, with 28 members of the Cabinet retained. Velle White/DMS