He assumed the role of acting Secretary of the Interior and Local Government on April 5, 2017, upon the departure of Ismael Sueno who was dismissed by President Duterte following corruption allegations.

[2] Cuy completed three years of studying Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Mapúa Institute of Technology in Manila in 1977.

The following year, he moved to Baguio to study at the Philippine Military Academy where he graduated as part of the Dimalupig Class of 1981.

He served as an aide of President Fidel Ramos before being assigned in Mindanao to join the Philippine National Police (PNP).

[7] Upon retirement from the PNP, Cuy joined the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte as DILG Undersecretary in July 2016, and as officer-in-charge of the department in April 2017.