President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has appointed blogger Rey Joseph “RJ” Nieto, better known on social media as as “Thinking Pinoy,” as Assistant Secretary at the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.
Nieto’s appointment letter, dated September 1, 2026, was signed by Marcos. It stated that Nieto may assume the duties of the position upon submitting copies of his oath of office to the Office of the President and the Civil Service Commission.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Nieto confirmed his appointment, where he shared his appointment letter and said he had yet to take his oath.
“I will be serving as an Assistant Secretary in the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, Office of the President,” Nieto said.
“There are still a few formalities to complete before I begin work. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve the Filipino people, but I am also aware that this is a difficult time for the country,” he added.
Nieto became known for his Thinking Pinoy blog, which he launched in 2015 and used to publish political commentary. He was also known for being pro-Duterte.
Prior to his Palace appointment, Nieto served as a part-time instructor at Bulacan State University and as a columnist for Manila Bulletin.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with first-class honors from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom in June 2026. He is also pursuing a part-time Master of Science in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Public Policy at University College London (UCL) through flexible distance learning.
Nieto said his mathematics training taught him to examine evidence, systems, and complex problems, which he hoped to apply to his new government role.
“I spent the past years studying mathematics in the University of Bristol. That training taught me to look carefully at evidence, systems and complex problems. Sana magamit ko iyon sa trabaho,” he said.
“At the same time, I know that government is not a classroom. Marami pa rin akong kailangang matutunan. This is also why I am doing a part-time MSc in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Public Policy at UCL, pang-alalay sa trabaho,” he added.
He was acquitted in 2021 in a libel case filed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Trillanes had accused Nieto of libel over a social media post claiming that then-US President Donald Trump had called the former senator a “narco.”
In a separate case, the Makati Regional Trial Court in 2023 ruled against Nieto in a data privacy case filed by blogger Jover Laurio of Pinoy Ako Blog. The court ordered Nieto to pay damages and attorney’s fees over the publication of Laurio’s personal information.
