Malacañang has clarified that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has not designated former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia to lead the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles made this remark following reports that Garcia was one of the new appointees of the new President as Marcos filled his Cabinet.
In a statement late Friday, Angeles said there was no truth to the reports.
"I would like the public to be informed that there is no truth to the statements being made on social media that a certain George Erwin Garcia has been appointed PAGCOR Chairman," she said.
"No such appointment has been made," she added.
Andrea Domingo is the current head of PAGCOR.
Garcia is a veteran election lawyer who represented Marcos when he filed an electoral protest against former Vice President Leni Robredo in 2016.
He was appointed to Comelec by former President Rodrigo Duterte months before the elections in May, when Marcos Jr. emerged victorious.
However, he only served less than three months after failing to secure the approval of the powerful Commission on Appointments due to a lack of hearing quorum.
According to Garcia, he is open to returning to the Comelec if President Marcos decides to reappoint him.