Castro keeps post as Palace press officer
Acting Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez has retained Undersecretary Claire Castro, ordering her confirmation and recognition as “Palace press officer, effective immediately” in a special order dated July 29.
“She is doing a fine job!” Gomez told Malacañang reporters on Wednesday. Nearly two weeks since his appointment to the PCO, Gomez said he is still evaluating the courtesy resignations submitted by at least 40 other political appointees in the government’s lead communications arm.
He has also yet to put in his own people. As the Palace press officer, Castro’s duties, based on Gomez’s order, will include officially speaking to and briefing the media, and providing timely statements and clarifications on presidential engagements, policies and positions “as may be authorized.”
She will also lead the coordination with the Media Accreditation and Relations Office, Presidential News Desk and other relevant units at the PCO in support of press relations and media operations.
This is on top of supervising the preparation of messaging materials and briefing content for official media engagements. A lawyer by profession, the 56-year-old Castro was appointed to the PCO in February, along with Gomez’s predecessor, former acting PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz.
