Malacañang has accepted Henry Aguda’s resignation as secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Ombudsman Boying Remulla said during a DZRH radio program on Oct. 10.
The announcement came three days after Aguda said he remained focused on his duties. In its resignation report, DZRH recalled his Oct. 7 statement acknowledging the president’s authority to decide who serves in the Cabinet.
Aguda joined the Cabinet in March 2025 after a career in banking, technology, and telecommunications. He was previously president and CEO of UnionDigital Bank and senior executive vice president of Union Bank of the Philippines.
He also served as board chair of City Savings Bank and UBX Philippines. His earlier positions included chief technology officer at Globe Telecom, Digitel, and Amihan Global Strategies, and Digital Infrastructure Lead at the Private Sector Advisory Council.
His departure follows scrutiny of government internet projects and the temporary ban on Discord.
DZRH previously reported that the Ombudsman was investigating an alleged “ghost internet scheme.” Contractors allegedly supplied cheaper, outdated, or poor-quality equipment and software for government technology projects. Some free Wi-Fi sites were also found to be nonoperational.
The Discord controversy involved a separate order from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC). It gave Discord and Reddit 24 hours to establish a Philippine presence amid concerns about online groups linked to violence involving minors.
The CICC lifted the Discord ban on Sept. 24 after meeting with company officials about its requirements and protections for teenagers.
There is no official announcement from the DICT as of this writing.