Administration Announces Changes to Key Government Posts
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. initiated a series of key leadership changes across his administration, replacing the heads of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), while appointing chief trade negotiator Allen Gepty to the Court of Appeals. These changes occur amid heightened scrutiny of government connectivity projects, growing focus on the administration's public messaging strategy, and efforts to maintain momentum on the Philippines' economic and trade agenda. The changes underscore the extent of Cabinet turnover under President Marcos, whose administration has seen multiple leadership changes across key economic, infrastructure, communications, and governance portfolios since taking office in 2022. With these changes, the Marcos administration will have had three DICT secretaries and six PCO chiefs since 2022. In more than four years, only a small group of original Cabinet appointees remain in their original portfolios.
DICT Reset Follows Department Scrutiny
On October 11, after weeks of speculation, President Marcos confirmed that he had accepted the resignation of DICT Secretary Henry Aguda. While no formal reason was given for the exit, Aguda’s departure was linked to an ongoing investigation into alleged “ghost connectivity” projects under DICT’s Free Wi-Fi for All program, examining claims that government funds may have been spent on internet services that were never delivered. Pressure on DICT had been building for months. Authorities are also reviewing allegations involving possible overpricing, procurement irregularities, and the use of substandard software in government-funded projects. In August, Malacañang dismissed DICT senior officials over alleged bidding violations, prompting a broader internal reorganization within the agency. Furthermore, Aguda also faced criticism following DICT's brief order blocking Discord over child safety and extremism concerns, which was reversed after public backlash.
The President recently appointed Robert Joseph Montes de Claro, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Social Security System (SSS), as the new DICT Secretary. President Marcos described de Claro as having a strong background in the digital economy and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the department moving forward. Prior to his appointment, de Claro had served in several government bodies, including the Social Security Commission, the Employees' Compensation Commission, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. While de Claro has yet to set out his priorities as DICT secretary, key issues shaping his leadership will include the proposed social media ban for minors, the government’s cloud, cybersecurity, and data center policies as well as efforts to address alleged irregularities in the Department.
Administration Repositions Public Messaging Effort
On the same day he confirmed Aguda’s exit, the President also named People’s Television Network (PTV-4) General Manager Lino Cayetano as head of the PCO, citing that Dave Gomez would be leaving his post following his failure to secure confirmation from the Commission on Appointments. His departure continues a pattern of unusually high turnover within the communications office. Cayetano brings both political and media experience, having served as a congressman, mayor, television director, and communications executive. His appointment carries political weight given the Cayetano family's prominence in Philippine politics. Although his siblings, Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano, are aligned with the Senate minority and have been linked to the Duterte camp, Lino Cayetano positions himself independently, stating that political differences within the family should not hinder public service. The PCO transition reflects an apparent effort to strengthen the administration's communications strategy amid declining public approval ratings. Recent polling underscores the Philippines' evolving political landscape, with Vice President Sara Duterte maintaining the highest net satisfaction rating among senior government officials.
Trade Agenda Faces Leadership Change
Beyond the Cabinet reshuffle itself, President Marcos appointed Allan Gepty, the country's chief trade negotiator and a longtime Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) official, to the Court of Appeals. Gepty had been one of the principal architects of the Philippines' trade agenda, overseeing negotiations with the European Union, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and efforts to upgrade the country's trade agreement with Japan. He also played a leading role in regional economic integration initiatives, including implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and ASEAN economic cooperation efforts. In response to concerns about continuity, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the department “will definitely have a smooth transition”. The DTI has assigned senior officials from the Bureau of International Trade Relations to assume his responsibilities, particularly as DTI still aims to finalize the EU and Canada agreements and the revised Japan agreement this year.
