Who Is Malacañang's New Presidential Communications Office Chief?
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has named another veteran journalist to take the helm of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). Agency Undersecretary Claire Castro made the announcement at a news briefing on Thursday.
"Secretary Gomez brings decades of experience in journalism, government and corporate communications, having served as a senior reporter, director general of the Philippine Information Agency, and communications director at PMFTC Inc.," Castro said. "Secretary Dave will ensure clear and truthful government messaging for every Filipino."
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Dave Gomez was appointed to head the Malacañang's communication arm to replace former ABS-CBN journalist Jay Ruiz, who served as the agency's acting secretary. Gomez is the former communications director of Philip Morris International's (PMFTC) Philippine affiliate and ex-senior reporter at The Philipine Star. He is also the PCO's fifth chief under President Marcos' administration.
Gomez was also the public afairs and communications manager and regional communications manager for PMFTC Hong Kong, internaal communications manager for PMFTC Switzerland, and head of corporate commnucations at the company.
He was also the director general of the Philippine Information Agency and a public relations manager at Leo Burnett Manila.
Ruiz will now move on to being a member of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office's board of directors, marking the second time a former PCO chief was moved to the agency. Former chief Cheloy Garafil had been appointed as MECO chief after being replaced by Cesar Chaves, who had resigned from his post after failing to meet expectations in overseeing the agency.
Lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles was the first PCO chief appointed by President Marcos but she resigned due to "health reasons."
The powerful Commission on Appointments consisting of lawmakers from both the House of Representatives and Senate deferred deliberations on Ruiz's appointment as PCO chief, who was named in February.
