Ambassador roy cimatu biography

By Manolo Serapio Jr MANILA Reuters - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed a former military man as the new environment minister after Congress dismissed his first choice, who ordered the closure of more than half of the mines in the world's top nickel ore supplier. Former army general and ambassador Roy Cimatu will take over from Regina Lopez, a move welcomed by miners who have questioned the legality of Lopez's measures.

But environmental group Greenpeace and the Catholic Church expressed doubts that Cimatu will carry on with any meaningful reforms. Duterte has said he met Cimatu in Davao City many years ago where he served as mayor for more than two decades. Before Monday's appointment, Duterte last month named Cimatu as a special envoy to help overseas Filipino worker refugees.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines said it hopes Cimatu's appointment "finally answers our long-held call for a DENR secretary who has a balanced appreciation for environmental protection and natural resources management. Lopez in February ordered 22 of 41 operating mines to close permanently and later cancelled dozens of contracts for undeveloped mines to protect water resources.

Cimatu is a graduate

She also banned open-pit mining. Lawmakers last week rejected Lopez's appointment, ending the month tenure of the environmentalist who said the country is "unfit for mining" because of its unique ecosystem. But Greenpeace is unsure that Cimatu will protect the Philippines' environment. Some Greenpeace members barricaded the environment agency on Monday, Cinches said, "to protect it from the onslaught of business interest" following Lopez's dismissal.

Reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr. On Dec. Gordon Ramsay has spoken out for the first time since fellow TV chef Gino D'Acampo was accused of "sexually inappropriate" behaviour. Carrie Johnson is now fully recovered from her bout of pneumonia and enjoyed a fun-filled Saturday with her family as they headed to Warwick Castle — see the incredible photos.