1. Roy Cimatu previously served as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from May to September 2002 under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
22 Facts About Roy Cimatu
1. 2.
Roy Cimatu was born on July 4,1946, in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, the third child of war veteran Fidel Magarro Cimatu Sr.
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Roy Cimatu's father joined the guerilla movement and the 15th Infantry of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines at the Battle of Bessang Pass during World War II.
4.
Roy Cimatu completed his elementary education at Bangui Elementary School, and completed high school at Bangui National High School.
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Roy Cimatu studied engineering for two years at the National University in Manila before taking and passing the entrance exam for the Philippine Military Academy.
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Roy Cimatu then enrolled at the Aerostar Flying School to become a certified helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft pilot.
7.
Roy Cimatu trained at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, US.
8.
Roy Cimatu has a master's degree in Business Administration from Ateneo de Manila University.
9.
Roy Cimatu earned the moniker "General Pacman" for his efficiency during the "all-out war" launched by President Joseph Estrada versus the MILF rebels.
10.
In 2001, Roy Cimatu was appointed as the Commanding General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Command based in Zamboanga City.
11.
Roy Cimatu spearheaded Operation Endgame in Sulu under Operation Enduring Freedom that eventually led to the killing of Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya in June 2002.
12.
Roy Cimatu retired on September 10,2002, and was replaced by Benjamin Defensor Jr.
13.
Roy Cimatu 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 in 2004.
14.
On October 11,2016, Roy Cimatu was reappointed to the same position as Special Envoy to the Middle East by President Rodrigo Duterte.
15.
Roy Cimatu assumed the leadership of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on May 8,2017, when he was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to replace Gina Lopez; his appointment was confirmed on October 4,2017, by the Commission on Appointments.
16.
Roy Cimatu is the second retired general to head the department after former AFP chief and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes who was President Arroyo's DENR Secretary from 2006 to 2007.
17.
Roy Cimatu said "balancing environmental care and responsible mining can be done".
18.
Roy 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'.
19.
In 2019, Roy Cimatu spearheaded the task of rehabilitating Manila bay, which has been very polluted due to the years of neglect by authorities.
20.
On June 22,2020, President Duterte assigned Roy Cimatu to oversee the COVID-19 response in Cebu City due to city having the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country.
21.
Roy 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.
22.
Roy Cimatu was married to businesswoman Fe Aguillon of Antique with whom he has one son, Dennis, who studied architecture at the University of Santo Tomas.