“Gomez’s decision to entertain the possibility of joining the PCO…may yet prove to be a defining moment – for better or worse”
IN THE ever-fraught world of political communication, the last thing the Palace needs is another gamble.
But if Malacañang insiders are to be believed, that may be exactly what’s happening as Dave Gomez reportedly undergoes quiet vetting for a potential appointment to the Presidential Communications Office.
The Presidential Communications Office which is a whisper away from the political seat of power, serves as the primary communications arm of the President and the government.
Its main function is to ensure that information about the government’s agenda, policies, and programs is effectively communicated to the public.
This includes disseminating information to the media, managing the government’s online presence, and developing communication strategies to promote public understanding and support for government initiatives.
For those off the PCO fence, political communication is the study and practice of how information is transmitted and used to influence the political process and encompasses the ways politicians, the media, and citizens interact and exchange information, including messaging strategies, media coverage, and public opinion.
Informed sources say Gomez, a corporate communications man who recently left a cigarette manufacturing giant, was summoned last week and screened by administration figures.
As of posting, no official word has been released whether he passed the scrutiny or is still under evaluation.
But eyebrows are already being raised – especially among public health advocates who fear the tobacco lobby may soon have a direct line to the Palace.
And who could blame them?
Gomez’s long stint in a company opprobrious for its deep lobbying muscle casts a long scandalous shadow over his possible entry into government service.
In a time when the country is grappling with complex health and development issues, appointing someone perceived to be aligned – if not deferential – to tobacco interests is, at best, tone-deaf and, at worst, dangerous.
Media relations and communication experts say his background is not necessarily a strength; it may well be a liability.
Even more damning are the murmurs from within the very company he left.
Former and active Philip Morris insiders reportedly view Gomez with skepticism, questioning his competence and noting the firm’s tendency to “retire” those they consider dead weight, resulting in being an oppressive burden.
It begs the question: why would a top-performing executive be released—voluntarily or otherwise—if he was truly an asset?
Gomez’s decision to entertain the possibility of joining the PCO at a time when the administration is weathering a storm of criticism may yet prove to be a defining moment – for better or worse.
Does he have the mettle, some experts have asked, to defend the President and shape public discourse in an era of digital warfare and political polarization?
Or will he simply become another weak link in an already besieged chain?
Observers say God help him. More importantly, God help us all – because the stakes at the PCO are far too high to be entrusted to anyone unprepared for the firestorm.
