It is likely that there will be no Press Secretary under the administration of President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy”C. Aquino III.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that under the restructured Office of the Press Secretary (OPS), the position of the Press Secretary may likely be renamed, while all government television and radio stations, as well as the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) will be part of the Communications Group of the Aquino administration. If plans push through, this would be the first time since 1986, when then President Corazon C. Aquino created the OPS, that there is no Press Secretary in the Cabinet.

Lacierda, however, stressed that the OPS will not be dissolved, just reorganized.

The composition of the Communications Group, made up of people who have the trust and confidence of President Aquino, will be known this Monday, Lacierda said.

“These are the people who have the trust and confidence of the President. That is the basis and their competence and integrity ay walang kaduda-duda [are without any doubt],” Lacierda said on Saturday over government-run DZRB.

“What I can say, at least in my case, the Presidential Spokesperson will now be part of the Communications Group,” Lacierda explained. The Presidential Spokesperson used to be a part of the Office of the President (OP) in previous administrations.

This time, it will be part of the Communications Group.

“Ang maganda dito, hindi hiwalay ang Press Secretary and [Presidential] Spokesperson so mas defined ang roles ng bawat isa,” he explained. [“What’s good about this is that the Press Secretary and the Presidential Spokesperson are under one department so everyone has defined roles.”] “That’s why President Aquino said that he wants an organization that will deliver the messages effectively and that would provide a feedback mechanism to what the government is doing. So based along those instructions and that mandate, we reorganized the Communications Group, the Office of the Press Secretary,” he said.

Asked to confirm the positions that will be given to television newscaster Ricky Carandang and newspaper columnists Herminio “Sonny” Coloma and Manuel “Manolo” Quezon III, Lacierda was firm in saying that all the details will be announced this Monday.

Initial reports disclosed that Coloma will be assigned to handle media operations, including government-run television and radio stations, while Carandang will focus on messaging, including the Presidential News Desk. Carandang’s resignation was already announced by ABS-CBN over the weekend.

Malacañang, however, remained mum on further details, saying all the information regarding the Communications Group will be

announced this Monday.

“We have more details to give. It’s not that simple but we will announce everything by Monday,” Lacierda said. He said the structure is currently being finalized.

“My position is there is no official statement until there is an official announcement from the Palace. Aayusin lahat yang mga concerns, mga details ilalabas ng Monday,” he said. [“We will heed all the concerns and come out with the details on Monday.”] It’s not just about Ricky [Carandang] and Sonny Coloma,” he said. “It will be too premature to explain everything right now,” he added.

Lacierda, however, assured that the Communications Group will be accessible to the media.

“We need to speak with one voice and share with the public President Aquino’s advocacies and asahan niyo na magiging accessible [you can expect that the group will be accessible to the media],” he said.