Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Atty. Cheloy Gerafil during the confirmation of her ad interim appointment as Secretary of the Presidential Communication Office by the Commission on Appointments on March 15, 2023. Angie de Silva, ABS-CBN News

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Cheloy

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175861404531520230315-gerafil-cheloy-confirmation-ads-1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Atty. Cheloy Garafil during the confirmation of her ad interim appointment as Secretary of the Presidential Communication Office by the Commission on Appointments on March 15, 2023. <em>Angie de Silva, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>)— Former Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil was elected Secretary General of the House of Representatives during the plenary session on Tuesday, September 23.</p><p>This was after the position was declared vacant.</p><p>&quot;Attorney Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil is unanimously elected as the Secretary General of the House of Representatives,&quot; House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said.</p><p>Prior to Garafil, Reginald Velasco was the lower chamber&#x27;s Secretary General.</p><p>In a statement, Garafil accepted her new post &quot;with great honor and deep sense of responsibility.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I am humbled by the trust and confidence given to me, and I pledge to serve with integrity, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to the mandate of this institution,&quot; she said. &quot;I look forward to working with the leadership of the House in its collective mission to enact meaningful legislation that responds to the needs of our people.&quot;</p><p>Just last Wednesday, September 17, Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez stepped down as House Speaker with Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino &quot;Bojie&quot; Dy III taking his place.</p><p>The position of House Sergeant-at-Arms was later declared vacant as well.</p><p>Brigadier General Ferdinand Melchor Dela Cruz of the Philippine Army was then elected to take the position previously held by retired Police Maj. Gen. Napoleon Taas.</p><p>Garafil said she is looking forward to working closely with Dy as well as other members of the House and the Secretariat &quot;to ensure that our legislative processes are efficient, transparent, and responsive.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>REP. ELAGO’S OATH-TAKING</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago took her oath as a member of the House of Representatives before House Speaker Dy on Tuesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/17/comelec-proclaims-gabriela-as-winner-of-64th-party-list-seat-1402">Comelec proclaims Gabriela as winner of 64th party-list seat</a></div><p>Last week, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed Gabriela was the 64th party-list seat winner of the May elections in compliance with the constitutional requirement that party-list representatives must make up 20% of House membership.</p><p>Elago earlier said she would take her oath on Monday, September 22.</p><p>However, plenary session was cancelled on this day due to Super Typhoon Nando.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nMwqF5SSJ3U?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B4MT4K9i_F4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Former Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil was elected Secretary General of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.</p>

Former Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil was elected Secretary General of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Ex-PCO chief Garafil elected House Secretary General

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Ex-PCO chief Garafil elected House Secretary General

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 23, 2025 03:58 PM PHT

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Updated Sep 23, 2025 05:55 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

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Sarah Elago

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