Duterte picks Martin Andanar as Palace communications chief.
we presume news anchor Martin Andanar is leaving TV5.
On Thu, Jun 2, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte revealed that he will appoint Andanar as the new chief of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), replacing Herminio “Sonny” Coloma.
The PCOO is in charge of government information agencies such as PTV4, Philippine Information Agency, and Radyo ng Bayan.
As for the role of spokesman, Duterte emphasized he will not change his mind on designating lawyer Salvador Panelo for the position,” reports Dharel Placido on ABS-CBNnews.ocm.
Duterte explained, “Many of the guys there do not like him. Sal Panelo has been a good friend of mine for the longest time. He is honest, he can talk and maybe he is also abrasive in his language but that is the nature of the person.”
The report noted: “Doubts as to whether Panelo would ultimately serve as Duterte’s spokesperson surfaced when the president-elect said in an earlier interview that the lawyer would only work for him temporarily.
“Moreover, Maguindanao massacre victims’ families questioned Duterte’s choice for spokesperson, as Panelo lawyered for the Ampatuans, the main suspects in the gruesome 2009 killings.”