Cesar Bermejo Chavez is a Filipino government official and former media executive who previously served as the acting secretary of the

Presidential Communications Office The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), formerly known as the Presidential Communications Group (PCG), is the lead communications arm of the Office of the President of the Philippines that is tasked with communicating the administration ...

(PCO) under President

Bongbong Marcos Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. (, , ; born September 13, 1957), commonly referred to by the initials BBM or PBBM, is a Filipino politician who has served as the 17th president of the Philippines since 2022. He is the second child ...

's administration. He was appointed to the position on September 5, 2024.

Early life and education

Chavez originates from in

San Jose, Camarines Sur San Jose, officially the Municipality of San Jose (; ), is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 43,973 people. ...

. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in political science from

Adamson University Adamson University (; AdU or ADU) is a private Catholic university operated by the Congregation of the Mission located in Manila, Philippines. The university has academic programs in graduate school, law, the liberal arts, sciences, engineerin ...

in 1989. He later obtained his Master in National Security Administration from the

National Defense College of the Philippines The National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP; ) is an educational, training, and research agency of the Philippine government located inside Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. It is responsible for providing continued and ...

in 2000. In 2008, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Peace and Security from

Bicol University Bicol University (), also referred to by its acronym (BU or Bicol U), is a regional state, research and coeducational higher education institution in Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines, with external campuses scattered throughout the provinces of ...

Media career

While a student at

, Chavez joined

DZRH DZRH (666 AM) is a radio station owned and operated by MBC Media Group. The station’s studios are in the MMG Building, Star City, V. Sotto Street, CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay with transmitter along I. Marcelo Street, Brgy. Malan ...

in 1986 as its youngest reporter. He served as the assistant vice president and director for news and public affairs at

Manila Broadcasting Company The Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), doing business as the MBC Media Group, is a multimedia company in the Philippines. It is currently owned by the FJE Group of Companies of Fred J. Elizalde, which also operates hotels and Pasay-based amusem ...

(MBC), one of the Philippines' largest radio networks. Additionally, he was the general manager of the

Nation Broadcasting Corporation Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) is a Philippine radio and television broadcast company established in 1963. As of December 2013, NBC is a subsidiary of MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. under the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund. NBC's radio and t ...

DZAR DZAR (1026 AM) Sonshine Radio was a radio station owned and operated by Swara Sug Media Corporation in the Philippines. The station's studio was located at the 3rd Floor, ACQ Tower (formerly Jacinta Building I/NBC Tower), Santa Rita St. cor. ...

, where he oversaw the station's operations and programming.

Government service

Chavez has held various positions in government service. He served as the chairman and chief executive officer of the National Youth Commission from 1998 to 2000 and commissioner-at-large of the same body from 1995 to 1998. From 2014 to 2015, he worked as assistant general manager of the

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA; ) is a government agency of the Philippines responsible for constituting the regional government of Metro Manila, comprising the capital city of Manila, the cities of Quezon City, Caloocan, ...

(MMDA). In the transportation sector, he served as assistant secretary for rail from September 2016 to February 2017 under the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and became the undersecretary for railways of the agency until November 2017. Chavez was the chief of staff of Manila mayor

Isko Moreno Francisco "Isko" Moreno Domagoso (; born October 24, 1974) is a Filipino politician, actor, host and entrepreneur who is the mayor-elect of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, having been 2025 Manila local elections, elected in 202 ...

until 2021. Chavez said he resigned in order to return to MBC. Chavez then served as undersecretary for railways from July 2022 to December 2023 again under DOTr.

Under the Marcos administration

On December 6, 2023, Chavez was appointed by President Bongbong Marcos to be the presidential assistant for strategic communications under the

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), formerly known as the Presidential Communications Group (PCG), is the lead communications arm of the Office of the President of the Philippines that is tasked with communicating the administration ...

. Before his appointment as assistant, he was first offered to be the Press Secretary after the resignation of lawyer and blogger

Trixie Cruz-Angeles Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Laviña Cruz-Angeles (born March 29, 1965) is a Filipino lawyer and vlogger who served as Press Secretary of the Philippines from June 30, 2022, until October 4, 2022. Education Cruz-Angeles attended the University of the ...

. Chavez faced rebuke when he posted on social media a supposed presidential proclamation declaring December 22, 2024 as a half-working day; later in the day, after it was disseminated by other government agencies, it was disowned by the communications office. Chavez apologized as he posted content that was not verified by him. On September 5, 2024, Cheloy Garafil stepped down as the

Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office The secretary of the Presidential Communications Office is the head of the Presidential Communications Office of the Philippines. Formerly known as the minister of public information (1969–February 25, 1996), press secretary (1965–1969; Apri ...

for her appointment as the Chairperson and Resident Representative of the

Manila Economic and Cultural Office The Manila Economic and Cultural OfficeIn .In . Also known as the Philippine Representative Office in Taiwan; . simple known as MECO is the List of diplomatic missions of the Philippines, representative office of the Philippines in Taiwan, functi ...

. Chavez was then appointed as Acting

Secretary A secretary, administrative assistant, executive assistant, personal secretary, or other similar titles is an individual whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, program evalu ...

of the

after subsequent changes were made in the palace press office. On February 20, 2025, he announced his resignation, effective "February 28, 2025, or anytime earlier when my replacement is appointed." Chavez didn't mention the cause of his resignation, although he said that "I have fallen short of what was expected of me."

Return to Manila as Chief of Staff

Chavez expect to return as Chief of Staff of the Office of the Mayor under Mayor-elect

Personal life

Chavez is married and has four children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chavez, Cesar Living people Filipino civil servants People from Camarines Sur Adamson University alumni Bicol University alumni Filipino radio journalists Ramos administration personnel Estrada administration personnel Benigno Aquino III administration personnel Duterte administration personnel Bongbong Marcos administration cabinet members Secretaries of the Presidential Communications Office 1965 births