ACTING Communications Secretary Dave Gomez has retained Palace Press Officer Claire Castro as undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
“She is doing a fine job!” Gomez said as he confirmed his decision to decline the courtesy resignation that Castro submitted early this month.
Gomez had asked for the courtesy resignation of appointees in the PCO shortly after he took over as the agency’s acting secretary in July in place of Jay Ruiz.
Castro was appointed as PCO undersecretary in February, along with Ruiz.
Gomez said there are no new appointees to the PCO at present.
Gomez, though PCO special order 25-174 issued on July 29, said Castro is “confirmed and recognized as Palace Press Officer effective immediately.”
Among her tasks are officially speaking and briefing the media; providing timely statements and clarifications on presidential engagements, policies and positions; and supervising the preparation of messaging materials and briefing content or official media engagements.
She will also lead the coordination with the Media Accreditation and Relations Office (MARO), Presidential News desk (PND) and other relevant units in support of press relations and media operations.
