New PCO chief Cayetano urges critics to back programs for Filipinos

Lino Cayetano and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Bongbong Marcos/FacebookMANILA— TV director and former Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano made his first appearance as the newest communications chief of the Marcos Jr. administration on Tuesday and called for support for government programs despite political differences. 

Cayetano replaces Dave Gomez, whose appointment the congressional Commission on Appointments did not confirm.

Cayetano, brother of minority Sens. Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano,  is the sixth person to take on the job.

After his oath-taking, Cayetano was immediately asked about issues on his appointment, especially having siblings who are critics of the Marcos administration.

“Regardless nasa’n tayo sa political spectrum, ang importante, are we fighting for the same things? And across the political spectrum, many of us kahit ibang partido, pareho ang pinaglalaban natin,” the PCO chief said.

(Regardless of where we are on the political spectrum, what is important is are we fighting for the same things?)

He called on government supporters and its critics to “come together to support programs that will help the Filipino people.”

He laid out his plans, including the continuing fight against fake news, and some changes in messaging now that Marcos is suffering low ratings.

“We will continue to engage with media, we will continue to see how to most effectively communicate with the Filipino people not just to Filipinos in the country but to Filipinos around the world,” Cayetano said.

Marcos on Tuesday was asked about the recent change of leadership in PCO and said “the job keeps changing in terms of what we are trying to put forward.”

He said Palace communications was centered on policy at the start of his administration, then focused in implementation.

“Now we are having to talk about getting more towards the more political aspects of the communications job,” Marcos said.

Prior to his appointment, Cayetano led the state television network PTV.

He acknowledged the challenges in the highly-charged political environment, particularly fighting false information against the administration.

“Sa ‘kin ang pinaka epektibo diyan (For me, the most effective strategy is), is to engage media. One of the biggest victims of fake news is media, traditional media, journalists, vloggers who take their work seriously,” he said.

Cayetano has barely two years in office before Marcos steps down from the presidency.