Ruiz out, Gomez in: Palace taps 5th comms chief in 3 years
So the rumors are true, after all.
A day after Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said “Jay Ruiz remains the acting secretary” of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the Palace announced that Ruiz was out—transferred to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco), the de facto embassy of the Philippines in Taiwan, as a board member.
In his place as PCO chief, President Marcos appointed journalist-turned-corporate communications executive Dave Gomez, the fifth and newest acting secretary of the agency in a span of three years.
The President also formally named Sharon Garin as energy secretary, more than a month since she was placed as officer in charge (OIC) of the Department of Energy.
‘Clear and truthful’
“Secretary Gomez brings decades of experience in journalism, government, and corporate communications … [He] will ensure clear and truthful government messaging for every Filipino,” Castro said at a press briefing.
“We look forward to their leadership as we strengthen government communications and secure our country’s energy needs under Bagong Pilipinas,” she added.
Gomez worked for 11 years as a reporter of the Philippine Star, before transitioning to public relations at Leo Burnett Manila and later as director general of the Philippine Information Agency. He was also the communications director of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. Inc., the local affiliate of US-based Philip Morris International, for more than 23 years.
Demotion
Both Gomez and Garin will still be facing the Commission on Appointments (CA) for confirmation.
Ruiz’s move to Meco will place him under its chair and resident Philippine representative Cheloy Velicaria Garafil, who was also a former PCO chief.
Malacañang did not provide a reason for Ruiz’s movement, which was the latest in the Cabinet revamp being done halfway into the Marcos administration.
In a message to Malacañang reporters, Ruiz thanked President Marcos “for his continued trust and confidence in appointing me to a new role in his administration.”
He also congratulated Gomez for his appointment: “I am confident that under his leadership, the agency will continue to grow and thrive in fulfilling its vital mission.”
Communications arm
Ruiz served for only five months in the Cabinet. He was first appointed by Marcos in February along with Castro. He was then renamed acting secretary of the PCO in June, after the CA deferred the deliberations on his appointment for lack of time.
The lead communications arm of the government, the PCO under Marcos was first headed by lawyer-turned-vlogger Trixie Cruz-Angeles, who served for less than three months before stepping down in October 2022, citing health reasons.
Succeeding Angeles, Garafil was appointed OIC and undersecretary of the now-defunct Office of the Press Secretary, renamed the Presidential Communications Office.
A few months later, on Jan. 10, 2023, Garafil took over as the new PCO secretary. She previously served as chair of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
‘I have fallen short’
In September 2024, Garafil was replaced by Cesar Chavez, who previously served as the presidential assistant for strategic communications and earlier held key positions at the Department of Transportation and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
Less than six months into his job, on Feb. 5, Chavez quit his post as acting secretary, saying “I have fallen short of what was expected of me.”
Ruiz, a former ABS-CBN broadcast journalist and businessman, took his oath as ad interim secretary on Feb. 24.
In June, the CA bypassed the appointment of Ruiz. The 19th Congress also failed to confirm him before it adjourned sine die. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
