President Rodrigo Duterte appointed former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff and retired general Roy Cimatu as the newest Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) secretary. This was after the Commission on Appointments rejected Gina Lopez to lead the DENR.
Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol confirmed the news in his Facebook post after President Rodrigo Duterte introduced Cimau as the new Environment secretary.
Many speculations that a young lawyer would lead the DENR, but President Rodrigo Duterte ended all the speculations.
“‘Let us put an end to all speculations,” President Rodrigo Duterte said as he announced the appointment of Cimatu, Piñol wrote in his post.
Last week, Lopez said that Rodrigo Duterte must be the one who replace her as DENR secretary because of his bravery, but the Malacañang said that the President was too busy to handle the environment.
Lopez also said that she’s willing to become an undersecretary of DENR if the President would allow her to continue her fight against illegal mining.
Cimatu is an Ilocano and a long time friend of President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang also said that the former plan for the former AFP chief was to appoint him as special envoy for OFW refugees.
They met in Davao City when the ex-afp chief was assigned in Davao.
Netizens questioned the capability of Cimatu to lead the DENR because of his background, but they wished that he’s going to continue the fight of Gina Lopez against illegal mining.
Members of Commission on Appointments is not yet releasing a statement on the appointment of Cimatu.
Cimatu served as chief of staff of the military in 2002 during the leadership of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
