MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has recommended former press secretary Cheloy Garafil as the new chairperson of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco).
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a social media post on Tuesday that Marcos made the recommendation through a “desire letter.”
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., through a desire letter, recommends Atty. Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil as Member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office,” it said.
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Marcos’ recommendation of Garafil as the new Meco chairperson came days after Cesar Chavez took his oath as chief of the PCO, a position held by Garafil until Chavez’s oath-taking on September 5. It was not clear if Garafil resigned as PCO head.
Chavez previously confirmed that Garafil will be appointed to Meco, the Philippines’ de facto embassy in Taiwan, but said it would still depend on the office’s board of directors.
In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net on Tuesday, Chavez said Marcos recommended Garafil’s appointment to Meco through a desire letter because the president cannot directly appoint a chair in government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).
“‘Yung desire letter na kino-convey ng Pangulo it has been the practice of government lalo na sa GOCCs. Desire letter ang binibigay kasi ang nageelect ng officers ang board, the President cannot appoint directly,” Chavez explained.
(The desire letter conveyed by the President has been the practice of the government especially in GOCCs. The desire letter is given because the board elects its officers, the President cannot appoint directly.)
“The board will then convene in compliance with the President’s recommendation,” he added.
Asked if the recommendation is as good as an appointment, Chavez responded in the affirmative.
“Formalities na lang [‘yung desire letter],” he added. (The desire letter is just formalities.)
In a separate statement, Garafil expressed thanks to Marcos for recommending him as the chairperson of the Meco Board of Directors.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for entrusting me with a role that holds great significance and tremendous responsibility, as it comes with the duty of ensuring the welfare of our Kababayans in Taiwan,” said Garafil.
“I also assure the President and the Filipino people of my steadfast dedication to further strengthening economic and cultural exchanges between the Philippines and the people of Taiwan,” she added.
Currently, the chairperson of Meco is Silvestre Bello III, who served as labor secretary during the Duterte administration.
However, a source told INQUIRER.net that Bello has already quit his post as Meco chair and that he would be running for senator in the 2025 midterm elections.
INQUIRER.net has contacted Bello to verify this but has yet to receive a response, as of this writing.