President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has designated the country’s environment chief Raphael Lotilla as the Philippine ambassador to the Holy See, Malacañang announced Friday.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said Lotilla neither resigned nor was asked to step down from his post.
“He chose to have a lighter assignment,” Castro told a press briefing.
Lotilla will be replaced by Department of Environment and Natural Resources Usec. Juan Miguel Cuna as acting secretary.
“To ensure continuous operations at the DENR, a smooth transition between Secretary Lotilla and Cuna is ongoing,” Castro added.
The Cabinet change comes after Lotilla failed to secure confirmation from the Commission on Appointments. He had led the environment department since June 2025.
As envoy to the Vatican, Lotilla will succeed Ambassador Grace Ragenia Macahilig, who has headed the Philippine Embassy to the Holy See since November 2021.
Macahilig will assume her new post as ambassador to South Africa next month.
Lotilla has served in government for more than 20 years, including as undersecretary of the National Economic and Development Authority under three presidents.
Before his appointment to the environment post, he was energy secretary from July 2022 to June 2025.
He also previously served as president and chief executive officer of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., the state firm tasked with privatizing National Power Corp. assets.
In the private sector, Lotilla served as an independent director of several publicly listed conglomerates with interests in energy and financial services.
