QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday afternoon, appointed former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Roy Cimatu as the new Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR) secretary, replacing Gina Lopez.
Agricultural Secretary Manny Pinol said in his Facebook post that President Duterte introduced Cimatu to the cabinet as the neweEnvironment chief.
Pinol wrote that President Duterte said “Let us put an end to all speculations” when he announced the appointment of former Army General and Ambassador Roy Cimatu as the new environment Secretary.
On Wednesday (May 3), the Commission on Appointments (CA) rejected Gina Lopez as the DENR secretary after three confirmation hearings.
She was questioned about her technical knowledge as the environment secretary after her controversial orders to close down or suspend the mining operations in the country and to cancel mineral production sharing agreements.
Lopez also required the suspended mining companies to give P2 million for every hectare of disturbed land affected by their activities, before they can remove their stockpiles from mining areas and be given export permits
During her last confirmation hearing on Tuesday (May 2), most of the questions thrown at her were on her standards as the environment secretary and the legal basis of her recent decisions.
Lopez said only President Duterte can best serve as DENR chief.
“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 said.
Jodi Bustos, Eagle News Service
