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Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office

The secretary of the Presidential Communications Office is the head of the Presidential Communications Office of the Philippines. The role is responsible for managing the Office of the President's communications. Formerly known as press secretary (1946–1969; April 28, 1986 – August 9, 2010; June 30–December 29, 2022), the minister of public information (1969–February 25, 1996), and secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (August 9, 2010 – June 30, 2022;[a]; February 13, 2023-present[1]). The holder of the position, at times, also acts as the presidential spokesperson.[2]

Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office
Incumbent
Dave Gomez (ad interim)
since July 10, 2025
StyleThe Honorable
Member ofCabinet
AppointerThe president
with the consent of the Commission on Appointments
Term lengthNo fixed term
Inaugural holderAlice C. Villadolid (1986)
FormationApril 28, 1986
(40 years ago) (1986-04-28)
Websitehttps://pco.gov.ph/about/

Background

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The Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) serves as the chief communications official of the Philippine government. Tasked with crafting and disseminating the official messaging of the President, the Secretary oversees all public communications, media relations, and government information dissemination. The role includes managing the PCO and its attached agencies, coordinating with various departments to ensure consistency in government messaging, and serving as the primary spokesperson or media coordinator for the Office of the President when needed.[2]

The Secretary is appointed by the President but must be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments, as it is a Cabinet-level position.[3]

List

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Portrait Name Office name Term began Term ended President
Guillermo V. Sison Press Secretary 1958 July 1958 Carlos P. Garcia
Jose C. Nable August 1, 1958[4] December 1961
Rufino G. Hechanova December 30, 1961 July 1962 Diosdado Macapagal
Leoncio R. Paruñgao Jr. July 19, 1962[5] January 1964
Virgilio P. Reyes Sr. January 1964[6] December 1965
 Jose Aspiras December 30, 1965 December 1969 Ferdinand Marcos
 Francisco Tatad Minister of Public Information 1969 February 1980
Gregorio Cendaña February 1980 February 25, 1986
Alice C. Villadolid Press Secretary April 28, 1986 September 3, 1986 Corazon Aquino
 Teodoro Locsin Jr. March 26, 1986 September 14, 1987
Teodoro Benigno Jr. September 15, 1987 June 14, 1989
 Adolfo Azcuna June 16, 1989 December 31, 1989
Tomas B. Gomez III January 4, 1990 February 11, 1992
Horacio V. Paredes February 12, 1992 June 30, 1992
Rodolfo Reyes July 1, 1992 May 10, 1993 Fidel V. Ramos
Jesus Sison May 11, 1993 June 20, 1995
Hector Villanueva July 21, 1995 June 29, 1998
Rodolfo Reyes July 1, 1998 April 15, 2000 Joseph Ejercito Estrada
Ricardo Puno Jr. April 16, 2000 January 20, 2001
Noel C. Cabrera January 23, 2001 March 31, 2002 Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Rigoberto Tiglao April 1, 2002 April 17, 2002
Silvestre Afable April 17, 2002 July 15, 2002
 Ignacio Bunye July 16, 2002 January 19, 2003
 Hernani Braganza January 20, 2003 June 17, 2003
Milton Alingod June 18, 2003 August 30, 2004
 Ignacio Bunye September 1, 2004 June 15, 2008
 Jesus Dureza June 16, 2008 January 31, 2009
 Cerge Remonde February 1, 2009 January 19, 2010
Conrado Limcaoco Jr. (Acting)[7] January 20, 2010 January 31, 2010
Crispulo Icban Jr. February 1, 2010 June 30, 2010
Cornelio Baliao Jr. (OIC) July 1, 2010 August 9, 2010 Benigno S. Aquino III
 Herminio Coloma Jr. Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office[8] August 10, 2010 June 30, 2016
 Martin Andanar June 30, 2016 June 30, 2022 Rodrigo Roa Duterte
 Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles Press Secretary[9] June 30, 2022 October 4, 2022 Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
 Atty. Cheloy V. Garafil, MNSA (OIC) October 7, 2022 December 29, 2022
 Atty. Cheloy V. Garafil, MNSA Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office[10] [1] December 29, 2022 September 5, 2024
 Cesar B. Chavez (Acting) September 5, 2024 February 24, 2025
 Jay Ruiz (Ad Interim) February 24, 2025 July 10, 2025
 Dave Gomez (Acting) July 10, 2025 Incumbent

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Although the "Office of the Press Secretary" was changed to "Presidential Communications Operations Office" on August 9, 2010 which changed the position's name from "Press Secretary" to "Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office", Herminio Coloma Jr. only assumed the position as Secretary of PCOO a day after the change from OPS to PCOO on August 10, 2010, with Cornelio Baliao Jr. still acted as Press Secretary - OIC within August 9 of the said year.

References

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  1. 1 2 "Executive Order No. 16: Reorganizing the Presidential Communications Office". pco.gov.ph. Presidential Communications Office. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Presidential Communications Reforms". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Confirmation Process". commappt.gov.ph. Commission on Appointments. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Official Week in Review". Official Gazette. 54 (17). Bureau of Public Printing: ccci–cccviii. August 4, 1958. Retrieved April 28, 2026. Before opening his press conference, the President introduced his new press secretary, Jose C. Nable, whom he had inducted earlier in the afternoon [August 1].
  5. ↑ "Official Week in Review". Official Gazette. 58 (30). Bureau of Public Printing: cclxxxix–ccxciv. July 23, 1962. Retrieved April 28, 2026. Earlier this morning [July 19] the President administered the oath of office to newly-appointed Press Secretary Leoncio R. Paruñgao Jr., at his study room in Malacañang.
  6. ↑ "Official Week in Review". Official Gazette. 60 (5). Bureau of Public Printing: xxxvii–xli. February 3, 1964. Retrieved April 28, 2026. Acting Press Secretary Virgilio Reyes said one important change is the downward revision of the duty on imported rice[...]
  7. ↑ "Limcaoco named acting Palace press secretary". ABS-CBN News. January 19, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  8. ↑ "PCOO Secretary and Former Press Secretaries". Presidential Communications Operations Office. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Executive Order No. 2, s. 2022". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. June 30, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Executive Order No. 11, s. 2022" (PDF). Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. December 29, 2022.
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