President Marcos has recommended former Presidential Communications Office (PCO) secretary Cheloy Garafil as “member and chairman of the Board of Directors” of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and former PCO secretary Cheloy Garafil (Photo from Bongbong Marcos Facebook page)
In a Facebook post, the PCO announced the recommendation made by Marcos.
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., through a desire letter, recommends Atty. Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil as Member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO),” the PCO said.
Garafil, a lawyer, was replaced by former Presidential Assistant on Strategic Communications and broadcaster Cesar Chavez at the PCO.
Chavez earlier claimed Garafil will be appointed as the new chief of MECO, which has a board that elects its officials, promotes and protects the Philippines’ interests in Taiwan.
In its website, MECO said it is mandated to serve as a link between the people of the two countries. It has been authorized to perform functions usually carried out by Philippine foreign missions but of a non-political, non-security nature and performs consular functions.
Before being named as MECO board chair and PCO secretary, Garafil served as chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
A former journalist, she also worked as Justice department prosecutor and a state solicitor of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).