MANILA — After his speech, President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Wednesday asked the crowd to join him in singing “Happy Birthday” to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu who is celebrating his birthday alongside his agency’s 31st founding anniversary.
“Mabuhay ang departamentong DENR! Mabuhay si Cimatu! (Long live, DENR! Long live Cimatu!)” Duterte said at the agency’s headquarters in Quezon City.
“May I please request you to stand up? Hindi, hindi ako nagloloko (No, I’m not joking) Just to give him a day of his life. It is his birthday. Magkanta lang tayo (Let’s sing) happy birthday,” he added.
Duterte also expressed gratitude for being invited as guest of honor.
“Thank you for your invitation. I hope I have given you something. I said it’s just the vignettes of life where you can sleep on it tonight,” he said.
In his speech, Duterte mentioned that he selected Cimatu as member of his cabinet because they shared “the same passion,” describing the DENR chief as has always been “simple.”
Last year, Duterte appointed Cimatu as DENR chief, replacing environmental advocate Gina Lopez whose nomination was rejected by the Commission on Appointments.
Cimatu served as Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff during the Arroyo administration. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)