Ruiz not shareholder of Digital8, resigns in Jan

Documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission show that Presidential Communications Office Secretary Jay Ruiz was neither an incorporator nor a shareholder of Digital8 Incorporated.

Rappler obtained copies of the Articles of Incorporation and General Information Sheet from January 2024, which did not list Ruiz's name, despite earlier reports suggesting he co-founded the company.

Ruiz clarified in a press briefing on Tuesday that he never owned shares of Digital8 and resigned from the company in January 2025 to focus on other business ventures.

PCSO General Manager Mel Robles stated that the P178.5 million contract between PCSO, IBC-13, and Digi8 is a public document for joint venture purposes, emphasizing Ruiz's role as an authorized representative at the time of signing in late 2024.

Ruiz was replaced as Digital8’s representative to the joint venture through a board resolution on January 17, 2025, more than a month before his appointment as PCO secretary.