MANILA — Newly installed Presidential Communications Office chief Jay Ruiz slammed Tuesday as fake news a report that a media company he allegedly co-founded bagged someP200 million worth of contracts with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Ruiz denied being the co-owner of Digital 8 Inc., which secured the contracts for the production and television transmission of the PCSO’s lotto draws and other games in state-run International Broadcasting Corporation.

Ruiz, a former ABS-CBN and DZMM TeleRadyo reporter, said he was tapped by Digi8 as authorized representative “to act as their face and spokesperson”, being the head of marketing and sales, in October 2024.

He said he resigned from the company on January 17, before he was appointed PCO chief.

Ruiz noted “he did not need to divest anything” from Digi8. 

“Hindi naman ako may-ari,” he said.

“All they had to do was research with the [Securities and Exchange Commission]. Tingnan mo ‘yung may-ari, nandiyan ba ‘yung pangalan ko? Wala. 2012 yata nabuo ‘yang kumpanya na ‘yan,” he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

He said the report had failed to get his side. 

"Balanse ba iyon? Hindi ‘di ba? Isa lang panig ang pinakinggan mo eh. Unang-una, wala ngang dokumento iyong istorya,” Ruiz later told Palace reporters. “Ano ‘to demolition job? Fake news ba ‘to? Ano ang dahilan?”

He said the only company he needed to divest from was a political management firm, which ran campaigns, surveys and strategic communications during elections.

Palace: PCO chief Ruiz divesting from media company to avoid conflict of interest

“Doon ako nada-divest, kasalukuyang nagda-divest,” he said.

“Matagal ko nang firm yan. Yun, possible conflict of interest. Although wala sya sa 25 percent yata. If you own 25 percent of a firm like that, kailangan magdivest. Ang alam ko 20 percent I have to check. Hindi ko pa nache-check kasi biglaan naman ang appointment na ito,” he later said in a separate interview.

He said he does not see the need for him to divest from his other businesses as these do not pose a conflict of interest in his current position. Aside from his political communication management firm, he also owns two restaurants and an art gallery.

Ruiz said the PCO was studying the establishment of an Office of Fact-Checking that would regulate social media and combat the proliferation of misinformation or "fake news."

PCO studying creation of gov't body to regulate social media

He noted that the fake news against him caused significant mental stress to his loved ones and concerns for their physical safety. He added that he requested for security for his family following the release of the report, given fears that they could be targeted by kidnappers.

“Kinakailangan natin itong labanan. Sumusobra na e. Walang regulation, walang responsibility, walang code of ethics. Ano ba ito, hindi naman pupwedeng ganyan. Sa totoo lang seriously nung una, tinatawa ko lang pero malaki ang implications ng ginawa nila na ‘yan sa pamilya ko,” he added.

— With a report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News