Claire Castro keeps post as Palace press officer

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro keeps her post in the Presidential Communications Office. 

PCO Acting Secretary Dave Gomez confirmed this to Palace reporters on Wednesday morning. 

The Special Order No. 25-174 seen by GMA News Online stated the confirmation of the designation of Castro as Palace Press Officer. She is tasked to lead the coordination and delivery of official press briefings and media engagements on behalf of the Office of the President and the PCO. 

She is also obliged to provide timely statements and clarifications on presidential engagements, policies, and positions, as may be authorized, according to the document dated July 29, 2025. 

Castro is also expected to lead coordination with the Media Accreditation and Relations Office, Presidential News Desk, and other relevant units in support of press relations and media operations.

Castro shall report directly to the Secretary of the PCO for policy guidance, strategic direction, and official issuances. 

According to Gomez, Castro is ”doing a fine job” in the PCO. 

On July 16, Castro submitted her courtesy resignation after Gomez ordered it as he assumed the post as head of the communications arm of the Marcos administration. 

Gomez said this was part of the “standard transition process.”

“Until any action is taken by the Undersigned on such courtesy resignations, all Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries and Directors of the PCO-Central Office and Heads and other Presidential Appointees of Attached Agencies shall continue to report for work and perform their usual duties and responsibilities, subject to any modification that the new leadership of PCO may deem proper to adopt in the meantime,” Gomez said in an earlier memo.

Meanwhile, Gomez also said there would be ”no new appointees” when asked if certain personalities will be designated in the PCO, particularly Ramon Ilagan and Samuel ”Porky” Porcalla. 

On the other hand, the PCO chief did not disclose how many courtesy resignations have been accepted. —AOL, GMA Integrated News