Carandang, Quezon III eyed for Aquino's communications group

Two media personalities — a TV newscaster and an opinion columnist — are being considered to head the Aquino administration's communications group, Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Thursday. Lacierda refused to confirm rumors that Aquino is choosing between Ricky Carandang and Manuel L. Quezon III for press secretary, but admitted that the names of the two have been floated in discussions on who will head the Office of the Press Secretary that is being restructured by the new administration. "Their names were mentioned, to be perfectly honest. I understand their names were mentioned, but no action yet," said Lacierda at a press briefing in Malacañang. Aquino did not name a press secretary when he announced the members of his Cabinet last Tuesday, a day before his inauguration. He said his administration will transform the OPS into a communications group that will handle not only the press but also "the main avenue for feedback with constituents." "There will be a head, somebody has to be accountable to the president," Lacierda said at the press briefing. "There will be someone, whether it's called press secretary or not — most likely it won't be called pres secretary — but someone will be appointed." Quezon refused to issue a statement regarding the issue, while Carandang has not yet replied to GMANews.TV’s query as of posting time. Both Quezon and Carandang are anchorpersons on ANC. Quezon, a historian, also writes an opinion column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer. - Jam L. Sisante/KBK, GMANews.TV