Manila, January 10，2023（AseanAll)Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday(January 10) swore in lawyer Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil as Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
According to PNA and other media reports，the PCO shared a photo of Marcos administering Garafil's oath at Malacañang Palace.
Before being named to the post, Garafil served as officer-in-charge (OIC) and Undersecretary of the now defunct Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) since October last year.
On December 29, 2022, Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. (EO) 11, streamlining the administrative structure of the Office of the President (OP).
Under Executive Order (EO) No. 11, the OP will now consist of five major offices directly under the president’s control and supervision.
These are the Executive Office, Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Private Office, Office of the Special Assistant to the President, and the OPS, which Marcos renamed to PCO.
The OPS was renamed to the PCO which will be responsible for crafting, formulating, developing, enhancing and coordinating the messaging system of the Executive branch and the OP.
Garafil served as chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board but resigned to accept Marcos' offer to serve as OPS OIC and Undersecretary after her predecessor Trixie Cruz-Angeles stepped down due to health reasons.
She was also a prosecutor and state solicitor under the Justice Department and the Office of the Solicitor General, respectively.
Garafil worked as a journalist for over a decade. She also worked as a media officer of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In October last year, Garafil said her office will see "some changes" in the coming days.
She said her office continues to boost efforts to inform and communicate to a broader public what the Marcos administration seeks to achieve in the months ahead.
Garafil vowed that under her watch, her office will be "transparent and accurate" in delivering and disseminating information on the Marcos administration's policies, programs, activities and accomplishments.
She also assured that her office would uphold free speech and expression, as she acknowledged the Philippine press' crucial role in strengthening Philippine democracy.
