Marcos still looking for permanent press secretary

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has yet to pick his choice for permanent press secretary, a position currently occupied by an officer-in-charge.

“Because we are still in transition… But those positions will solidify,” the President said in a media interview in Pasay City yesterday, when asked if he already had anyone in mind to assume the post of press secretary on a permanent basis.

Marcos last week appointed lawyer and former journalist Cheloy Garafil as undersecretary and OIC of the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).

“We talked about rightsizing all the time. We’re rightsizing everything, everywhere all the time and this is part of that,” he said.

Marcos also has yet to appoint a secretary of the Department of Health, which is headed by Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire as OIC. Marcos concurrently heads the Department of Agriculture.

Prior to OPS, Garafil chaired the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Trixie Cruz-Angeles has resigned as press secretary due to health reasons.

Earlier, four names were reportedly being considered as press secretary – Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. executive Mike Toledo, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. board of directors member Gilbert Remulla and film director Paul Soriano.

Chavez is a former broadcast journalist and station manager of dzRH. Remulla is also a former broadcast journalist and lawmaker.

Toledo served as press secretary during the term of former president Joseph Estrada.

Soriano, a relative of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, directed Marcos’ first State of the Nation Address. The President also stood as a principal sponsor at his wedding to actress-host Toni Gonzaga in 2015.

Chavez had said he would like to concentrate in the rail sector. Soriano, for his part, stated he could be of better service behind the scenes working with Marcos’ communication team.