The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) will remain under the administration of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, contrary to earlier reports that it might be abolished, Malacañang said on Saturday.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said there was no plan to abolish the OPS, which was formerly headed by Manila Bulletin’s Crispulo Icban Jr.

“The OPS is just being reorganized," Lacierda said.

“There is no abolition,” he stressed. Lacierda said President Aquino has no final word on who will head the Office of the Press Secretary.

However, a Palace source, who requested anonymity as he is not authorized to provide information to media, said Sonny Coloma, who had served as Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief under former President Corazon C. Aquino, looms as the next Press Secretary.

ABS-CBN anchorpersons Ricky Carandang and Manuel L. Quezon III, who were earlier reported as the frontrunners to head the Aquino communications group, may likely be given other roles, the same source said.

Apart from being former PMS head, Coloma had served under former President Aquino’s administration as Undersecretary in the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

During the administration of President Joseph Estrada, Coloma served as DoTC Undersecretary, supervising the maritime industry sector.

Earlier reports said the Aquino administration was mulling over the abolition of the OPS and possibly bring back the Office of the Communications Director (OCD).

The post of Press Secretary has been vacant since President Aquino announced the members of his Cabinet on June 29, a day before his inauguration as the 15th President of the Republic.

Lim to DILG?
Is Mayor Alfredo S. Lim leaving the Manila city hall to join the Aquino administration?

Sources said Lim, known for his close ties with the Aquino family, was being eyed by the new administration to head the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Lim had served as the DILG Secretary during the administration of deposed former President Joseph “Ejercito” Estrada.

Two sources from both Manila City Hall and Manila Police District had told the Manila Bulletin that Lim will likely give up his post as the mayor of Manila and accept the DILG portfolio.

Lim could not be reached for comment.

One source, who was a teacher in a city-run university, admitted that they had been hearing such reports since after the May 10 elections when President Aquino was already leading the partial and unofficial tally of the Commission on Elections.

In the event that Lim accepts the DILG portfolio, the source said Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno will become mayor while 5th district councilor Josie Siscar will assume as vice mayor.

A source from the MPD said Lim was supposed to retire from politics if only former Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, his political rival, did not run in the past elections.