Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Department of Energy secretary Raphael Lotilla at the Giga Summit in Makati City on September 11, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Giga Summit

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177216639831120230911-meralco-giga-summit-MD-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Raphael Lotilla at the Giga Summit in Makati City on September 11, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE</strong>) — Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Raphael Lotilla has been appointed as the Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See, Malacañang announced Friday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/13/tv-patrol-doe-sec-lotilla-lilipat-na-sa-denr-2017">TV PATROL: DOE Sec. Lotilla lilipat na sa DENR</a></div><p>Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro in a press briefing said that Lotilla requested for a “lighter assignment.&quot;</p><p>“According to what we have heard ang sinabi po ay mas nais ngayon po ni Secretary Lotilla ng lighter assignment. So, iyon lang po ang naibigay sa ating information,” Castro said.</p><p>Pressed further why the Environment secretary wants a ‘lighter assignment’, Castro replied in jest, “Baka lagi po siyang magdarasal.&quot;</p><p>Castro also clarified that Lotilla neither resigned nor was asked to resign.</p><p>When asked if the reassignment was related to Lotilla’s appointment confirmation, Castro responded &quot;I was not informed about that”.</p><p>“Iyon lang po. He chose to have a lighter assignment,” she added.</p><p>Prior to leading the DENR, Lotilla served as the Marcos administration&#x27;s Energy Secretary.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>REPLACEMENT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Lotilla will be replaced by DENR Usec. Juan Miguel Cuna as acting Secretary.</p><p>Castro said the transition between Lotilla and Cuna is underway to ensure unimpeded operations of the agency. She added</p><p>The process of submitting the names of acting secretaries for their confirmation is ongoing, according to Castro.</p><p>Lotilla was reportedly bypassed thrice after the Commission on Appointments failed to act on his nomination before Congress adjourned on Dec. 30, 2025.</p><p>Meanwhile, prior to his appointment, Cuna served in the agency from 2008 as provincial environment and natural resources officer until 2010. He was then appointed as DENR director from 2010 until 2015, assistant secretary in 2017 and undersecretary in the same year.</p><p>Cuna also became a law professor in Arellano Law Foundation and Director IV Legal Officer of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office of the Office of the President from 1998 to 2001.</p><div><br/></div><p>.</p>

<p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that Lotilla wants a “lighter assignment."</p>

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that Lotilla wants a “lighter assignment."

Lotilla appointed PH Ambassador to the Holy See; Usec. Cuna is new DENR chief

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Lotilla appointed PH Ambassador to the Holy See; Usec. Cuna is new DENR chief

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 27, 2026 12:30 PM PHT

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Updated February 27, 2026 04:26 PM PHT

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