Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda said he continues to do his job following a report that he either resigned or was forced to resign.
Newsbytes.PH reported on Oct. 7 that Aguda submitted his resignation after First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to remove him. The report cited industry sources. Aguda’s statement did not say whether he had submitted a resignation letter.
“At this time, I remain focused on carrying out my responsibilities and ensuring the continuity of the Department’s work,” Aguda said.
The report comes after several issues involving DICT, including warnings about banning online platforms and an investigation into free Wi-Fi projects.
GMA News reported in August that Aguda said blocking Facebook would be a “last resort” to protect users, especially children, from harmful content and online abuse. He wanted better checks on users’ identities and faster removal of harmful posts and videos.
In September, Philstar.com reported that the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center warned Discord and Reddit that access could be blocked unless they appointed local representatives and addressed child safety concerns. Authorities raised concerns about sexual exploitation and groups encouraging children to take part in violence.
Philstar.com also reported that the Ombudsman was looking into alleged “ghost internet” projects — services the government may have paid for but never received. Some free Wi-Fi sites allegedly had routers installed but no working internet connection.
Investigators were still checking the facts and had not determined who was responsible. DICT said it welcomed the investigation and that Aguda ordered closer checks on whether contractors were delivering internet services.
Before joining DICT, Aguda was president and CEO of UnionDigital Bank. He also served as UnionBank’s chief technology and operations officer and chief transformation officer. He took his oath as DICT secretary on March 25, 2025.
Photo by Marlet Salazar