President Marcos has designated Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna the acting secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to replace outgoing Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

Lotilla was assigned as the new ambassador to the Holy See.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed the appointments during a press briefing on Friday (Feb. 27).

Castro said Lotilla did not resign as DENR secretary. Neither was he asked to resign.

However, she said the outgoing DENR chief has chosen “to have a lighter assignment.”

A lawyer, Cuna’s promotion was well received by officials and rank-and-file employees of the DENR.

“We are confident that Secretary Cuna will provide strojng ledership and continue the DENR’s work with professionalism, integrity and a steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship,” the DENR said in a statement.

He served the DENR since 2008 starting as Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer until 2010.

From 2010 to 2015, Cuna served as director of the department and was later promoted as assistant secretary.

In 2017, the Ateneo de Manila law graduate was promoted undersecretary.