President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed Environment Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla as the Philippines’ new ambassador to the Holy See, triggering a leadership transition at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at a critical period for the country’s mining and natural resources sector.
Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna has been designated as acting DENR secretary to ensure continuity of operations, Malacañang confirmed on February 27.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro clarified that Lotilla neither resigned nor was asked to resign, saying the reassignment came at his request for a “lighter assignment.”
“According to what we have heard, Secretary Lotilla prefers a lighter assignment at this time. That is the information given to us,” Castro said during a press briefing.
Lotilla has yet to issue a formal statement on his new diplomatic posting.
Nine months at the DENR
Lotilla served as DENR secretary for nine months, having been appointed in May 2025 as part of a Cabinet revamp that replaced former environment secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga. Prior to heading the DENR, Lotilla served as energy secretary from 2022.
His appointment to the environment portfolio had faced scrutiny after being bypassed three times by the Commission on Appointments before Congress adjourned in late 2025. In January, Malacañang said it was reviewing his appointment records to ensure compliance with all requirements.
The Holy See — the central governing body of the Catholic Church based in Vatican City — maintains diplomatic relations with the Philippines, one of the largest Catholic nations in Asia.
When asked about the reason behind Lotilla’s request for a lighter workload, Castro said she was not aware of the specific details, adding that his new role may allow him to “pray more often,” given the nature of the post.
Continuity at DENR
Malacañang assured stakeholders that DENR operations will continue uninterrupted during the transition.
“To ensure the continued operations of the DENR, a smooth transition between Secretary Lotilla and Cuna is underway,” Castro said.
Cuna brings nearly two decades of institutional experience within the department. He joined the DENR in 2008 as Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer and was appointed director in 2010. In 2017, he served as acting secretary before being named assistant secretary and later promoted to undersecretary in the same year.
Beyond the DENR, Cuna has academic and legal credentials. He previously served as a law professor at the Arellano Law Foundation and was director of legal affairs at the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office from 1998 to 2001.
Implications for the resource sector
The leadership change comes as the DENR continues to oversee critical policy areas affecting the mining, energy transition and environmental compliance landscape, including the implementation of responsible mining reforms, environmental impact assessments and resource permitting processes.
Industry stakeholders will be closely monitoring how the acting leadership maintains regulatory stability and policy direction, particularly amid sustained global demand for critical minerals and the Philippines’ push to balance resource development with environmental protection.
For now, Malacañang has emphasised continuity, with Cuna expected to steer the department while Lotilla prepares to assume his diplomatic post in Rome.
