Roy Agullana Cimatu (, born July 4, 1946)
is a retired
Philippine Army
The Philippine Army (PA) ( Tagalog: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''; in literal English: ''Army of the Ground of the Philippines''; in literal Spanish: ''Ejército de la Tierra de la Filipinas'') is the main, oldest and largest branch of the ...
general
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
who served as the
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources
The secretary of environment and natural resources ( Filipino: ''Kalihim ng Kapaligiran at Likas na Yaman'') is the head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines.
List
References
External linksDENR - History< ...
from 2017 to 2022 in the
Cabinet
Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to:
Furniture
* Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers
* Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets
* Filing ...
of President
Rodrigo Duterte
Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945), also known as Digong, Rody, and by the initials DU30 and PRRD, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson ...
.
He previously served as the
Chief of Staff
The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supporti ...
of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The P ...
from May to September 2002 under President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, House Deputy Spe ...
. After his retirement from the military, President Arroyo appointed him as the Special Envoy to the Middle East during the
Iraq War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
.
Early life and education
Roy Cimatu was born on July 4, 1946, in
Bangui
Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Ubangi ...
,
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte, officially the Province of Ilocos Norte ( ilo, Probinsia ti Ilocos Norte; tl, Lalawigan ng Ilocos Norte), is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Its capital is Laoag City, located in the northwest corner of ...
, the third child of war veteran Fidel Magarro Cimatu Sr. and public school teacher Clara Agullana.
His father joined the guerilla movement and the 15th Infantry of the
United States Armed Forces in the Philippines at the
Battle of Bessang Pass
The Battle of Bessang Pass ( fil, Labanan sa Pasong Bessang; ilo, Gubat ti Paso Bessang) was a major battle during the Philippines Campaign (1944–1945), Philippines Campaign of World War II. It was fought from 9 January through 15 June 1945 i ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
He completed his elementary education at Bangui Elementary School, and completed high school at Bangui National High School.
Cimatu studied engineering for two years at the
National University
A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time operate autonomously without direct control by the state.
Some national universities are associated with national cultural or po ...
in
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
before taking and passing the entrance exam for the
Philippine Military Academy
The Philippine Military Academy ( fil, Akademiyang Militar ng Pilipinas / es, Academia Militar de Filipinas) also referred to by its acronym PMA is the premier military academy for Filipinos aspiring for a commission as a military officer of ...
.
He took the Infantry Officers Advanced Course with the
Philippine Army
The Philippine Army (PA) ( Tagalog: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''; in literal English: ''Army of the Ground of the Philippines''; in literal Spanish: ''Ejército de la Tierra de la Filipinas'') is the main, oldest and largest branch of the ...
Training Command and graduated from the Academy as a
second lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank.
Australia
The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...
of the ''Magiting'' Class of 1970 and topped his batch and received the highest grade of 97.27%.
He then enrolled at the Aerostar Flying School to become a certified helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft pilot. He also trained at the
United States Army Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military ...
at
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth () is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in the city of Leavenworth, Kansas, Leavenworth. Built in 1827, it is the second oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C., an ...
in
Kansas
Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
, U.S.
Cimatu has a master's degree in Business Administration from
Ateneo de Manila University
, mottoeng = Light in the Lord
, type = Private, research, non-profit, coeducational basic and higher education institution
, established = December 10, 1859
, religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic (Jesuits)
, academic_aff ...
.
Career
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
Cimatu spent most of his military career in
Mindanao
Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...
. After graduating from the Philippine Military Academy in 1970, he was immediately assigned in
Cotabato City
Cotabato City, officially the City of Cotabato ( Maguindanaon: ''Kuta nu Kutawatu'', Jawi:
كوتا نو كوتاواتو; Iranun: ''Bandar a Kotawato'', بندر ا كوتاواتو; fil, Lungsod ng Cotabato), is a third class independent co ...
as platoon leader and executive officer of the Alpha Company of the 11th Infantry Battalion under the
3rd Infantry Division.
As Commander of the
4th Infantry Division of the
Philippine Army
The Philippine Army (PA) ( Tagalog: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''; in literal English: ''Army of the Ground of the Philippines''; in literal Spanish: ''Ejército de la Tierra de la Filipinas'') is the main, oldest and largest branch of the ...
based in
Cagayan de Oro
Cagayan ( ), officially the Province of Cagayan ( ilo, Probinsia ti Cagayan; ibg, Provinsiya na Cagayan; itv, Provinsiya ya Cagayan; fil, Lalawigan ng Cagayan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region, covering ...
from 1999 to 2001, Cimatu led the
which resulted in the successful capture of most of the 46 camps of the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF; ar, ''Jabhat Taḥrīr Moro al-ʾIslāmiyyah'') is a group based in Mindanao seeking an autonomous region of the Moro people from the central government. The group has a presence in the Bangsamoro r ...
in
Lanao del Sur
Lanao del Sur ( tl, Timog Lanao; Maranao and ilp, Pagabagatan Ranao), officially the Province of Lanao del Sur, is a province in the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The capital is the city of ...
and
Maguindanao
Maguindanao (, Maguindanao language, Maguindanaon: ''Prubinsya nu Magindanaw''; Iranun language, Iranun'': Perobinsia a Magindanao''; tl, Lalawigan ng Maguindanao) was a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines located in the ...
.
He earned the moniker "General Pacman" for his efficiency during the "all-out war" launched by President
Joseph Estrada
Joseph Ejercito Estrada, (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor. He served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, the 9th vice preside ...
versus the MILF rebels.
In 2001, Cimatu was appointed as the Commanding General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) based in
Zamboanga City
Zamboanga City, officially the City of Zamboanga (Chavacano and es, Ciudad de Zamboanga, Tausug language, Tausūg: ''Dāira sin Sambuangan'', fil, Lungsod ng Zamboanga, ceb, Dakbayan sa Zamboanga), is a city in the Zamboanga Peninsula region ...
(now
AFP Western Mindanao Command
The Western Mindanao Command (abbrv. as WESTMINCOM) is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' unified command in charge of the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and the BARMM. It is responsible for the defense of these areas against external ...
). During his short stint as Southcom chief, he took part in the
Balikatan
Exercise Balikatan is the most prominent annual military exercise between the Philippines and the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country ...
02-1 military exercises between the Philippines and the United States which took place for the first time in
Basilan
Basilan, officially the Province of Basilan ( cbk, Provincia de Basilan; yka, Wilayah Basilanin; tsg, Wilaya' sin Basilan; fil, Lalawigan ng Basilan), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Re ...
amid the U.S.-led
War on Terror
The war on terror, officially the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), is an ongoing international Counterterrorism, counterterrorism military campaign initiated by the United States following the September 11 attacks. The main targets of the campa ...
.
![Ph2-052002](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Ph2-052002.jpg)
In May 2002, President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, House Deputy Spe ...
appointed Cimatu as the 30th
AFP Chief of Staff citing his accomplishments in his 36 years of military service.
As the AFP chief, Cimatu crafted and implemented a comprehensive anti-terrorist campaign plan to break the backbone of the
Abu Sayyaf
Abu Sayyaf (; ar, جماعة أبو سياف; ', ASG), officially known by the Islamic State as the Islamic State – East Asia Province, is a Jihadist militant and pirate group that follows the Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. It is based i ...
and to decimate other terror groups in the country. He spearheaded ''Operation Endgame'' in
Sulu
Sulu (), officially the Province of Sulu (Tausug language, Tausūg: ''Wilāya sin Lupa' Sūg''; tl, Lalawigan ng Sulu), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines in the Sulu Archipelago and part of the Bangsamoro, Bangsamor ...
under
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used synonymously by the U.S. government for both the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 at ...
that eventually led to the killing of Abu Sayyaf leader
Abu Sabaya
Abu Sabaya ( ; July 18, 1962 – June 21, 2002), born Aldam Tilao, was one of the leaders of the Abu Sayyaf in the southern Philippines until he was killed by soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 2002.
Life
Abu Sabaya was a former e ...
in June 2002.
Cimatu retired on September 10, 2002, and was replaced by Benjamin Defensor Jr. as AFP chief.
As a former chief of staff, Cimatu was accused by former AFP budget officer Col. George Rabusa of receiving send-off money or ''pabaon'' when he retired in September 2002.
During the Senate hearing on the
2011 Armed Forces of the Philippines corruption scandal The 2011 Armed Forces of the Philippines corruption scandal, also known as the "' scandal," was a political scandal involving the alleged misuse of military funds by high-ranking members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The system refe ...
, Rabusa said the retiring AFP chiefs, which also included Diomedio Villanueva and
Angelo Reyes
Angelo Tomas Reyes (March 17, 1945 – February 8, 2011) also known as General Reyes, was a Filipino retired general and politician who served as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff from 2000 to 2001 under President Joseph ...
, received at least from the pabaon system. The
Department of Justice
A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a v ...
filed plunder charges against Cimatu and other high-ranking AFP officials in June 2011 for allegedly accumulating ill-gotten wealth sourced from the conversion of military funds.
Rodrigo Duterte, then the mayor of
Davao City
Davao City, officially the City of Davao ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Dabaw; ), is a first class highly urbanized city in the Davao Region, Philippines. The city has a total land area of , making it the largest city in the Philippines in terms of lan ...
, defended Cimatu from the allegations. In his weekend television program ''Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa,'' Duterte said "I do not believe that General Roy Cimatu has millions."
An April 2013 decision by the
Office of the Ombudsman
An ombudsman (, also ,), ombud, ombuds, ombudswoman, ombudsperson or public advocate is an official who is usually appointed by the government or by parliament (usually with a significant degree of independence) to investigate complaints and at ...
recommended the dismissal of the plunder charges for lack of evidence.
His awards in the military are:
*
![PHL Gawad Mabini BAR](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/PHL_Gawad_Mabini_BAR.png)
-
Gawad Mabini
Gawad Mabini is an Honour, honor given by the Republic of the Philippines.
History
Created by Presidential Decree No. 490, the Gawad Mabini may be conferred upon personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines), DFA, both in the Hom ...
*
![Luzon Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Luzon_Anti-dissidence_Campaign_Medal.png)
Luzon Anti Dissidence Campaign Medal
*
![PHL Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal ribbon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/PHL_Visayas_Anti-Dissidence_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png)
Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
*
![Mindanao Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Mindanao_Anti-dissidence_Campaign_Medal.png)
Mindanao Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal
*
![Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Disaster_Relief_and_Rehabilitation_Operations_Ribbon.gif)
Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation Operation Ribbon
*
Military Commendation Medal
The Military Commendation Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is presented for exemplary execution of military duty.
Description
The medal is a three-pointed star, made of bronze color ...
*
Silver Wing Medal
This Silver Wing Medal is a military decoration awarded by Armed Forces of the Philippines to Philippine and allied military personnel. The Silver Wing Medal is awarded in only one class, and may be awarded by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces ...
*
Outstanding Achievement Medal
The Outstanding Achievement MedalThe AFP Adjutant General, ''AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 23. is a single grade decoration of the Philippines awarded by the Secretary of National Defense.
Criteria
The medal is awarded by ...
*
![AFP Long Service Medal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/AFP_Long_Service_Medal.gif)
Long Service Medal
*
![Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Anti-dissidence_Campaign_Medal.png)
Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
*
Distinguished Service Star
The Distinguished Service Star is the third highest military award of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is awarded for eminently meritorious and valuable service rendered while holding a position of great responsibility.
Description of the ...
*
Distinguished Conduct Star
The Distinguished Conduct StarThe AFP Adjutant General, ''AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 13-14. is the second highest military award of the Philippines, preceded in precedence only by the Medal of Valor. The award was esta ...
*
Bronze Cross Medal
The Bronze Cross MedalThe AFP Adjutant General, ''AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 29. is a single grade military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which is awarded for "heroism involving risk of life" under con ...
*
Military Merit Medal (Philippines)
The Military Merit MedalThe AFP Adjutant General, ''AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 34-35. is a military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The medal is awarded for heroic achievement or meritorious service du ...
*
![Scout Ranger Qualification Badge](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Scout_Ranger_Qualification_Badge.jpg)
Scout Ranger Qualification Badge
Special envoy
Upon his retirement from military service, President Arroyo appointed Cimatu as Special Envoy to the Middle East and head of the Middle East Preparedness Team (MEPT) in 2002 that was tasked to look after the safety and welfare of
overseas Filipino workers
Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is a term often used to refer to Filipino migrant workers, people with Filipino citizenship who reside in another country for a limited period of employment. The number of these workers was roughly 1.77 million be ...
in the Middle East amid the tensions brought by the
Iraq War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
.
He was the chief negotiator for the release of kidnapped Filipinos in Iraq including the truck driver Angelo de la Cruz who was abducted by
Iraqi insurgents near the city of
Fallujah
Fallujah ( ar, ٱلْفَلُّوجَة, al-Fallūjah, Iraqi pronunciation: ) is a city in the Iraqi province of Al Anbar, located roughly west of Baghdad on the Euphrates. Fallujah dates from Babylonian times and was host to important Jew ...
in 2004.
As Arroyo's envoy, Cimatu also negotiated for the surrender of 326 AFP officers who joined the
Magdalo Group
The Magdalo Group was a group of dissident soldiers who staged the unsuccessful Oakwood mutiny. Made up of junior officers of all branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the group took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center in Makat ...
in the
Oakwood mutiny
On July 23, 2003, a failed coup d'etat, now known as the Oakwood mutiny, was staged by a group of about 300 armed defectors from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) led by Army Capt. Gerardo Gamb ...
in July 2003. Cimatu served as Special Envoy to the Middle East for President Arroyo until 2010 and for President
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III (; February 8, 1960 – June 24, 2021), also known as Noynoy Aquino and colloquially as PNoy, was a Filipino politician who served as the 15th president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016. The son of ...
from 2010 to June 30, 2011.
On October 11, 2016, Cimatu was reappointed to the same position as Special Envoy to the Middle East by President
Rodrigo Duterte
Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945), also known as Digong, Rody, and by the initials DU30 and PRRD, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson ...
. As Duterte's special envoy, he was part of the President's delegation during the state visits to
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
,
Bahrain
Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an ...
and
Qatar
Qatar (, ; ar, قطر, Qaṭar ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar,) is a country in Western Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it sh ...
from April 10–16, 2017.
On April 23, 2017, during the opening ceremony of
Palarong Pambansa 2017 in
San Jose de Buenavista
San Jose de Buenavista, officially the Municipality of San Jose de Buenavista, ( krj, Banwa kang San Jose de Buenavista; hil, Banwa sang San Jose de Buenavista; tl, Bayan ng San Jose de Buenavista), is a 1st class municipality and capital of th ...
,
Antique
An antique ( la, antiquus; 'old', 'ancient') is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely ...
, President Duterte introduced Cimatu as a new Cabinet member and announced his appointment as Special Envoy for Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Refugees who is tasked to assist distressed Filipino workers in the Middle East.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Cimatu assumed the leadership of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources ( fil, Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas na Yaman, DENR or KKLY) is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for governing and supervising the exploration, developmen ...
on May 8, 2017, when he was appointed by President
Rodrigo Duterte
Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945), also known as Digong, Rody, and by the initials DU30 and PRRD, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson ...
to replace
Gina Lopez
Regina Paz "Gina" La'o Lopez (December 27, 1953 – August 19, 2019) was a Filipino environmentalist and philanthropist who served as Secretary of the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in an ''ad interim'' basi ...
; his appointment was confirmed on October 4, 2017, by the Commission on Appointments.
He is the second retired general to head the department after former AFP chief and Defense Secretary
Angelo Reyes
Angelo Tomas Reyes (March 17, 1945 – February 8, 2011) also known as General Reyes, was a Filipino retired general and politician who served as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff from 2000 to 2001 under President Joseph ...
who was President Arroyo's DENR Secretary from 2006 to 2007.
As Environment Secretary, Cimatu said he will be reviewing the mine closures ordered by his predecessor. He said "balancing environmental care and
responsible mining Responsible mining is commonly defined as mining that involves and respects all stakeholders, minimizes and takes account of its environmental impact, and prioritizes a fair division of economic and financial benefits. There is a strong focus on sta ...
can be done". "
The Nickelodeon Theme Park in Coron, which Lopez blocked, was given the green light by Department of Tourism Wanda Teo after a month of Lopez' rejection by the Commission on Appointments. Cimatu however, vowed for a thorough inquiry regarding the theme park to ensure the conservation and protection of the area stating 'that we continue to conserve and protect this last bastion of coastal biodiversity in Palawan'. In a statement, Cimatu said he has ordered his department's Biodiversity Management Bureau, Environmental Management Bureau, and MiMaRoPa office "to undertake an inquiry into this proposed plan, so that at the outset we can ensure that we continue to conserve and protect this last bastion of coastal biodiversity in Palawan."
Duterte, satisfied with the Boracay rehabilitation, gave Cimatu a more challenging task of rehabilitating the long-neglected Manila bay and vowed a serious cleanup on Manila Bay coastline which stretches 190 kilo meters across three regions from Cavite in Calabarzon, National Capital Region (NCR) or the Metro Manila area, and Bulacan and Pampanga in Central Luzon. Furthermore, Cimatu stated in a 2019 speech: “In Manila Bay, we have to break down in class SB status the fatal coliform of 330 million spm per 100 ml. of Manila Bay and the required effort to clean and rehabilitate Manila Bay would take around 330 times as that of Boracay,” it indicates that the fatal coliform in Manila bay is far more than what was present in Boracay, despite the overwhelming potential hurdles, the challenge was wholeheartedly accepted by Cimatu stating: “We are in the limelight now of what we want to do with Manila Bay. The President has shown confidence in our competence after what we have done in Boracay,”.
In 2019, Cimatu spearheaded the task of rehabilitating Manila bay, which has been very polluted due to the years of neglect by authorities. Under his leadership, the DENR has begun to inspect establishments near the bay and has given orders for them to put up their own sewage treatment plants. Part of their initiative includes taking water samples of the establishments’ wastewater discharges. The rehabilitation was dubbed "The Battle for Manila Bay" by Cimatu. It began on January 27, 2018, wherein around 5000 people have taken part carrying shovels, broomsticks, and sacks to assist in cleaning up their long-neglected bay.
COVID-19 Pandemic
On June 22, 2020, President Duterte assigned Cimatu to oversee the
COVID-19 response in
Cebu City
Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Sugbo; fil, Lungsod ng Cebu; hil, Dakbanwa sang Sugbo), is a 1st class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas Regions of the P ...
due to city having the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country.
Cebu City Environment Consultant
On August 30, 2022, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama appointed Cimatu as environment consultant to help realize his vision for the city to be Singapore-like. Cimatu’s task is to help and coordinate with the city on the restoration of waterways, address flooding, and find possible potable water sources to address scarcity.
Personal life
Cimatu was married to businesswoman Fe Aguillon of
Antique
An antique ( la, antiquus; 'old', 'ancient') is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely ...
with whom he has one son, Dennis, who studied architecture at the
University of Santo Tomas
The University of Santo Tomas (also known as UST and officially as the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila) is a private, Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Miguel ...
.
Aguillon-Cimatu died on February 20, 2021. His brother, Fidel Cimatu Jr., is the incumbent municipal mayor of their hometown
Bangui, Ilocos Norte
Bangui, officially the Municipality of Bangui ( ilo, Ili ti Bangui; fil, Bayan ng Bangui), is a 4th class municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 censu ...
who also graduated from the
Philippine Military Academy
The Philippine Military Academy ( fil, Akademiyang Militar ng Pilipinas / es, Academia Militar de Filipinas) also referred to by its acronym PMA is the premier military academy for Filipinos aspiring for a commission as a military officer of ...
in 1977.
References
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cimatu, Roy
1946 births
Filipino generals
Living people
Secretaries of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines
Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs (Philippines)
Advisers to the President of the Philippines
Duterte administration cabinet members
Benigno Aquino III administration personnel
Arroyo administration personnel
People from Ilocos Norte
Ilocano people
Philippine Military Academy alumni
United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
National University (Philippines) alumni
Ateneo de Manila University alumni
Recipients of Gawad Mabini