Lawyer Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil on Friday resigned as chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to serve as Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary of the Office of the Press Secretary.
“Today, October 7, 2022, I tendered my resignation as LTFRB Chairperson as I have accepted the offer to help in the Office of the Office of the Press Secretary as its Undersecretary and OIC,” Garafil said in a statement.
“This is a great honor and privilege and I thank the President for this opportunity to once again work with him in his administration to serve the Filipino people,” she added.
Her appointment to the OPS came days after lawyer-vlogger Trixie Cruz Angeles resigned from her post, days after she was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments.
At least 11 Cabinet members, who were bypassed by the CA, have been reappointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
At present, Malacañang is evaluating three candidates to become the next Press Secretary. The President said he is particularly looking for a “journalist or a media practitioner” who knows the art of messaging and a “friend” of the media for the position.
While the appointment papers of Garafil have yet to be published, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed to reporters her designation on Friday.
Garafil is not new to public service. She has served as the Service Director at the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives.
She was also a prosecutor for the Department of Justice and a State Solicitor for the Office of the Solicitor General.
She holds a Master’s degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College and is a Philippine Air Force reservist with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Garafil was a journalist before her stint in the government, writing for Malaya, Philippine Daily Globe, Central News Agency, and the Associated Press.