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February 27, 2026 | 12:46pm
Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla delivers a speech during the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026.
DENR via FB
MANILA, Philippines — President Bongbong Marcos has appointed Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla as the Philippines' new ambassador to the Holy See. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Usec. Juan Miguel Cuna will serve as acting secretary in the interim.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced the change in position on Friday, February 27, clarifying that Lotilla did not resign and was not asked to resign. He was only moved to a different position upon his request for a "lighter assignment," she said.
"According to what we have heard, ang sinabi po ay mas nais ngayon po ni Secretary Lotilla ng lighter assignment. So yun lang ang naibigay sa ating information," Castro said at a press conference. (Based on what we’ve heard, Secretary Lotilla reportedly prefers a lighter assignment at this time. That’s all the information we’ve been given.)
Lotilla only served as DENR secretary for nine months since Marcos appointed him in May 2025, replacing former environment secretary Maria Yulo-Loyzaga as part of the president's cabinet revamp.
When asked why Lotilla requested a lighter workload, Castro said she was not aware of the exact reason but suggested he may want to "pray more often" as part of his new role as ambassador to the Holy See.
The Holy See is the central governing body of the Catholic Church operating within the Vatican City in Rome, Italy.
Lotilla has yet to release a statement regarding the change in role.
Meanwhile, Castro explained that Marcos appointed Cuna as acting DENR secretary due to his long-standing service with the agency. Cuna has been with the department since 2008, initially serving as a provincial environment and natural resources officer.
He was later appointed director in 2010, acting secretary in 2017, and immediately thereafter as undersecretary the same year. Cuna also served as a law professor at the Arellano Law Foundation and was previously the director of legal affairs at the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office from 1998 to 2001.
The Malacañang assured that DENR operations will continue uninterrupted during the transition from Lotilla to Cuna.
