PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former broadcaster Cesar Chavez as the new secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Malacañang said Thursday. Chavez, presidential assistant for strategic communications, replaced outgoing PCO chief Cheloy Garafil, who was appointed to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO). Chavez took his oath before the President in Malacañang on Thursday afternoon. Chavez thanked the President for his appointment and vowed to effectively communicate government policies to the public. "I thank the President for another opportunity to serve the country, this government. My task here is clear — to communicate for the presidency, to communicate for the President, to communicate for the state. This is not an undertaking of the PCO, this is an undertaking of the entire government, especially the communications team," he said. Chavez also vowed to take an active role in the communications process of the Marcos administration, especially when it comes to issues about the West Philippine Sea. In the fight against fake news, Chavez said he would ask state media to designate their respective fact-check officers. "Timely, accurate, and validated information is what we need within the PCO," he said. The new PCO chief said he wants all government media agencies, including the Philippine News Agency, the Philippine Information Agency, PTV 4, and IBC — to have a fact-check officer to combat the spread of false information. "I think those in government have the [responsibility] not to be peddlers and instruments of fake news. At the same time, this isn't just the obligation of people in government, but also of those on the other side... especially now that our call is a wider perspective within and outside the bureaucracy, they have the responsibility of strengthening the republic without spreading fake news," he said. Before his appointment to the Palace, Chavez worked as Transportation undersecretary for railways and deputy administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority. He also became a member of the board of directors of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. Chavez served as a news anchor and station manager of DZRH and chief of staff of former Manila mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso. He will be the third communications secretary in President Marcos' administration. Before Garafil's appointment, lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles served as press secretary from June 30, 2022 until Oct. 4, 2022. Meanwhile, the President appointed Garafil as the new chairman and head representative of MECO, replacing Silvestre Bello III. MECO, the country's de facto embassy in Taiwan, facilitates interactions between the Filipino and Taiwanese people in investment, scientific and technological cooperatives, tourism, and labor. Chavez said Garafil has not taken her oath yet for her new designation. Before being named as press secretary, Garafil served as officer in charge of the then Office of the Press Secretary. In June 2022, Garafil was appointed by the President to lead the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. She served as service director at the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives. She also served as prosecutor for the Department of Justice and State Solicitor for the Office of the Solicitor General. Garafil also previously served as director who handled media affairs during former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's stint as speaker of the House of Representatives.
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