Garafil: Expect changes in the Office of the Press Secretary

Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Cheloy Garafil on Monday said changes within the OPS should be expected.

Last week, Garafil stepped down as chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and accepted the role of being the OPS OIC following the resignation of lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles due to health reasons.

Garafil said it was last week when President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. offered him the post and she accepted it.

"Last week pinatawag niya ko, and he said na kailangan niya ng someone sa OPS na makatulong and he offered me the OIC position, I said yes, of course..." Garafil told reporters.

(Last week, he summoned me and he said he needs someone who could help in the OPS and he offered me the OIC position. I said yes, of course...)

"Actually ang ano ko naman, hindi na importante kung OIC o full-pledged na Secretary... ang mahalaga sa akin, ang importante sa akin, 'yung trust and confidence na ibinigay sa atin ng ating Pangulo, na binigyan niya tayo ng pagkakataon at trust na makatulong sa ating OPS," she added.

(It's not important whether OIC of full-pledged Secretary... what's important is the trust and confidence given by the President, he gave us the chance and trust to help in the OPS.)

Garafil said she would meet with other OPS officials to discuss the operations within the said Office.

"Ngayon pa lang kami magmimeeting talaga formally on the operations of the OPS. So tingnan natin but definitely you'll see some changes in the coming days," Garafil said.

(We will meet formally today to discuss the operations of the OPS. We'll see but definitely you'll see some changes in the coming days.)

In June, Garafil, a former journalist, was appointed by Marcos to lead the LTFRB.

Prior to that, she served as service director at the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives. She also served as prosecutor for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and State Solicitor for the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG). — RSJ, GMA News