After two years of the Estrada administration, anyone who wants to speak for the President and deal with the press must be a masochist. How often did Fernando Barican, as presidential spokesman, say one thing on behalf of the President, only to be contradicted hours later by his boss? How could Rodolfo Reyes, as press secretary, have compelled the rambunctious press to report the good news about this administration? How often were the two bypassed by their boss, who went directly to media organizations to express his views, often in colorful language?
Throughout their service in the country's seat of power, Barican and Reyes also had to watch out for the vipers in the snake pit that is Malacañang. Now they're off to more peaceful climes: Reyes to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, and Barican to the board of directors of the Development Bank of the Philippines. Taking Reyes' suggestion, President Estrada has merged the functions of his spokesman and press secretary, giving both posts to journalist Ricardo Puno.
For being the brother of Ronaldo Puno, former secretary of the interior and local government, the new presidential spokesman has already received flak together with the Chief Executive, who was accused of paying a political debt to the Puno clan. Ricardo Puno brushed off the criticisms and vowed, as he assumed his post yesterday, that he would survive the Palace snake pit.
Survival means doing his job, and doing it well, which could be tough even for a lawyer who has made his name in both the broadcast and print media. Puno will be speaking for a Chief Executive who is known to open his mouth and speak his mind in public at the drop of a critic's hat. The new spokesman plans to improve the President's image amid charges of cronyism, corruption and a government adrift. We can only wish him luck.