Cherbett Maralit appointed as new MECO board member

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Cherbett Karen Maralit as a member of the Board of Directors of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), replacing Jay Ruiz.

Maralit previously served as an official in the Office of the Press Secretary and was appointed by Marcos in 2022. She also held the position of Chief of Staff for the late Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile and for Senator Loren Legarda.

READ: Palace debunks Tulfo claim of ₱50-M ‘missing vault money’

Meanwhile, Ruiz served as secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) prior to his stint at MECO. His tenure at the administration’s main communication arm, however, was marked by controversy.

Last November, retired columnist Ramon Tulfo claimed on social media that Ruiz had been removed from his post over an alleged P50 million “missing” from his vault. 

The missing funds were reportedly intended as payment for influencers and vloggers supporting the Marcos administration. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro denied the claim in a Viber message to reporters.

READ: Marcos appoints ex-journalist Dave Gomez as PCO secretary

Ruiz did not issue a statement regarding the allegation. He had previously led the PCO under the Marcos administration, following Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Cheloy Garafil, and Cesar Chavez.

In July, Marcos appointed seasoned journalist and corporate communications executive Dave Gomez as Ruiz’s replacement. /mr