Cheloy Garafil
Atty. Cheloy V. Garafil MNSA | |
|---|---|
 Garafil in 2022 | |
| Chairperson and Representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Philippine Representative to Taiwan) | |
| Assumed office October 1, 2024[1] | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Silvestre Bello III |
| Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office | |
| In office October 7, 2022 OIC until January 10, 2023; Position was known as the Press Secretary until December 29, 2022 – September 5, 2024 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Trixie Cruz-Angeles (Press Secretary) |
| Succeeded by | Cesar Chavez (Acting) |
| Chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board | |
| In office June 30, 2022 – October 7, 2022 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Martin Delgra III |
| Succeeded by | Teofilo Guadiz III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Pura, Tarlac, Philippines |
| Alma mater | University of Santo Tomas (BA, LL.B) National Defense College of the Philippines (MNSA) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Philippines |
| Branch/service |  Philippine Air Force Reserve Command |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil is a Filipino lawyer and former journalist who serves as the Chairperson and Resident Representative of Manila Economic and Cultural Office. She previously served as the Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office until replaced by acting secretary Cesar Chavez.[2]
Education
Garafil attended the University of Santo Tomas (UST) where she graduated with a communication arts degree. She later pursued law studies in the same university, then passed the bar examination in 2003.[3]
Career
Journalism
Prior to working in the government, Garafil served as a reporter for the newspaper Malaya. She also worked for the Philippine Daily Globe and the Central News Agency of Taiwan.[3]
Government
Garafil worked as a prosecutor for the Department of Justice during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.[3]
On October 7, 2022, Garafil resigned as chair of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to assume the position of Officer in Charge of the Office of the Press Secretary.[4] The office would later be reorganized as the Presidential Communications Office on December 29, 2022.[5][6] She would lead the office under a regular capacity when she took oath as Press Secretary on January 10, 2023.[7] Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez succeeded her on September 5, 2024.[8] Garafil is now the Chairperson and Resident Representative of Manila Economic and Cultural Office.[9] Garafil replaced Silvestre Bello III as MECO Chairman.
Personal life
She is married to Eric Garafil, a former reporter from The Manila Times and The Manila Chronicle. They have two sons and a daughter.
References
- ^ Jaymalin, Mayen (September 30, 2024). "Bello steps down as MECO chief". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ Sarao, Zacarian (September 5, 2024). "Cesar Chavez takes oath as press secretary". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c Reyes, Dempsey; Corrales, Nestor (October 8, 2022). "LTFRB's Garafil tapped as Palace media OIC". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- ^ Cordero, Ted (October 7, 2022). "LTFRB chair Garafil steps down, accepts OIC post in Office of Press Secretary". GMA News. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- ^ "Executive Order No. 11, s. 2022" (PDF). Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. December 29, 2022.
- ^ Romero, Alexis (January 5, 2023). "Marcos reorganizes Office of the President". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ "From OIC to secretary: Cheloy Garafil now heads Malacañang communications arm". The Philippine Star. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ Esguerra, Darryl John (September 5, 2024). "Cesar Chavez is new PCO chief as Garafil heads to MECO". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Valente, Catherine (September 5, 2024). "Marcos moves Garafil to MECO as its new head". The Manila Times. Retrieved September 5, 2024.