Newly-minted Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Dave Gomez on Monday said he will conduct a “performance audit” of the entire organization as he assumes the top government communications role.

“I need to conduct a fair, honest-to-goodness and unbiased performance audit of the office. I want to be fair to everyone,” he said during a casual meeting with reporters as he roamed around the New Executive Building where the PCO is housed.

He also extended his support to the Palace press in their coverage of the President.

Gomez is a former journalist who was previously assigned to cover Malacañang Palace. He was a member of the Malacañang Press Corps during the administration of President Fidel Ramos.

The new PCO chief said he has scheduled a department-wide meeting to review individual and office performance.

“It’s really very urgent,” he said, referring to the audit. “So, we started this morning, several more meetings this afternoon and tomorrow. All heads, I want to sit down with them one-on-one… a deep-dive with them and review… conduct an honest-to-goodness audit, performance audit.”

When asked if he expects current PCO officials to submit courtesy resignations, he said it’s not yet the time, emphasizing that his priority is to assess the department’s performance.

A ‘job to do’

Gomez acknowledged he is the fifth PCO secretary under the Marcos administration, which is still in its first half of governing.

“I just look at it objectively, I’m the fifth, I have a job to do. I have to do it well. I serve the President,” he said.

He added that his focus will be on effectively communicating government policies and programs, while also promoting press freedom and the digital transformation of the PCO.

Gomez also said programs initiated by his predecessor, fellow former journalist Jay Ruiz, to counter misinformation will continue under his watch.

“It will continue. I mean, fake news is doing a lot of disservice to the Filipino people. We need to correct the misinformation, and just present the facts as it is to the people,” he said.

Gomez officially assumed the top PCO role on Monday, 14 July 2025, after taking the oath of office before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He was formally appointed to the position on Friday when he first took his oath before Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.