Cheloy Garafil
Secretary General of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil is a Filipino lawyer and former journalist currently serving as the secretary general of the House of Representatives of the Philippines since September 23, 2025.
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Cheloy V. Garafil MNSA | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Secretary General of the House of Representatives of the Philippines | |
| Assumed office September 23, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Reginald Velasco |
| 9th Philippine Representative to Taiwan | |
| In office October 1, 2024[1] – September 23, 2025 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Silvestre Bello III |
| Succeeded by | Corazon Padiernos (OIC) |
| Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office | |
| In office October 7, 2022[a] – September 5, 2024 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Trixie Cruz-Angeles (Press Secretary) |
| Succeeded by | Cesar Chavez (Acting) |
| Chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board | |
| In office June 30, 2022 – October 7, 2022 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Martin Delgra III |
| Succeeded by | Teofilo Guadiz III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Pura, Tarlac, Philippines |
| Alma mater | University of Santo Tomas (BA, LL.B) National Defense College of the Philippines (MNSA) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Philippines |
| Branch/service |  Philippine Air Force Reserve Command |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
She previously served as Chairperson and Resident Representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office from 2024 to 2025 and shortly served as the Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office until replaced by acting secretary Cesar Chavez.[2]
Education
Garafil attended the University of Santo Tomas (UST) where she graduated with a communication arts degree. She later pursued law studies in the same university, then passed the bar examination in 2003.[3]
Career
Journalism
Prior to working in the government, Garafil served as a reporter for the newspaper Malaya. She also worked for the Philippine Daily Globe and the Central News Agency (CNA) of Taiwan.[3]
Government
Garafil worked as a prosecutor for the Department of Justice during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.[3]
On October 7, 2022, Garafil resigned as chair of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to assume the position of Officer in Charge of the Office of the Press Secretary.[4] The office would later be reorganized as the Presidential Communications Office on December 29, 2022.[5][6] She would lead the office under a regular capacity when she took oath as Press Secretary on January 10, 2023.[7] Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez succeeded her on September 5, 2024.[8] Garafil was subsequently appointed Chairperson and Resident Representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, replacing Silvestre Bello III.[9]
On September 23, 2025, Garafil was named as new secretary general of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, succeeding Reginald Velasco.[10]
International Recognition
On January 23, 2026, Garafil receives Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon[11].
Personal life
She is married to Eric Garafil, a former reporter from The Manila Times and The Manila Chronicle. They have two sons and a daughter.
