President Rodrigo Duterte handed the recently vacated seat of DENR Secretary to former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff and ex-special envoy for OFWs and refugees Roy Cimatu.
Duterte tapped Cimatu after the Court of Appeals dismissed the nomination of acting DENR secretary Gina Lopez- a known environmental advocate.
Agricultural secretary Manny Piñol said that the President confirmed Cimatu’s placement as DENR secretary through a Facebook post
Piñol quoted Pres. Rodrigo Duterte as saying, “let us put an end to all speculations”, before the announcing Cimatu’s new position as a cabinet member.
Lopez only considered Duterte as a replacement explaining that the spot needs someone that embodies bravery.
“My choice for DENR secretary is President Duterte… I can’t think of any other person. It needs guts. It needs tapang (bravery) because you have to step on business interest,” Lopez disclosed to reporters.
Even before Cimatu’s confirmation as a cabinet member, Duterte told the Filipino community in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia that he was talking to Cimatu about the position.
Credit: Robinson Ninal, Malacanang Photo
