President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday swore in lawyer Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil as Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) as Malacanang also disclosed new appointments for the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), Social Security System (SSS), and the Office of the President.
The PCO shared a photo of Mr. Marcos administering Garafil’s oath at Malacañang Palace, about three months after the President plucked the lady lawyer and former journalist out of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to replace erstwhile Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles.
Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said Tuesday she will leave it up to Mr. Marcos Jr. to appoint her as full-fledged Health Secretary, following the appointments of Garafil and new Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez on Monday.
“We congratulate those who have been appointed already. They are well-deserved for Secretary Galvez and Secretary Garafil,” Vergeire said in a press conference.
The other appointees were Antonio Paolo Serrano Lim as Assistant Secretary for the Office of the Senior Deputy Executive Secretary (OSDES); Manuel Lahoz Argel Jr. as Acting Member, representing the Employer’s group of the SSS; Commissioner Lolibeth Ramit-Medrano of the Philippine Competition Commission; and Peter Anthony Joseph Felarca Felix as Assistant Secretary for the OSDES.
For the DBP, the President tapped Michael Osmeña De Jesus as the Acting President and Chief Executive Officer and Board Member; and Emmeline Calderon David, Jaime Zita Paz, Maria Lourdes Laurel-Avanceña Arcenas as acting members of the Board of Directors.
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.
Under Executive Order (EO) No. 11, 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 LTFRB chairperson but resigned to accept Mr. Marcos’ offer to serve as OPS OIC and Undersecretary after 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, worked as a journalist for over a decade, and was media officer of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Last October, Garafil said her office will see “some changes” in the coming days as it 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.
As for Vergeire, she said: “We leave it again to the discretion and the prerogative of the President. If we will be appointed, of course, we will continue what we are doing so that we can enact the needed reforms.”
Mr. Marcos previously said that he would only appoint a Health Secretary if the country’s situation returned to normal in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
Vergeire also clarified that the Palace’s memorandum circular on the tenure deadline of OICs in Executive agencies did not apply to her. Thus, “there is no timeline” to her appointment as officer in charge.