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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Thursday, May 4, 2017
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MANILA – The Commission on Appointments (CA) rejected on Wednesday the appointment of Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Lopez may no longer be reappointed. She was the second President Rodrigo Duterte appointee in the Cabinet to be rejected by the CA. The first was Perfecto Yasay Jr. as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“She’s no longer a secretary unfortunately,” confirmed Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.
The minimum vote to approve or disapprove appointments is 13, Pimentel explained.
Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, chairman of the CA committee on natural resources, assured that his recommendation to disapprove Lopez’s appointment was based on the decision of at least 13 members.
Pacquiao, who voted in favor of Lopez, insisted that the decision to reject the latter’s appointment was not his personal decision.
“Hindi ito ang katapusan,” said the boxing superstar turned senator. “Umpisa pa lang ng bagong kabanata ng isang matapang, tapat at may prinsipyong babae, at iyan si Gina Lopez.”
Senators Loren Legarda, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Vicente Sotto III, Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, and Ralph Recto also voted in favor of Lopez.
“It is unfortunate that we let pass a great opportunity for my much beloved DENR to be led by someone who has the passion,” said Legarda, an environmental advocate. “In such a short time, Gina Lopez has already done a lot.”
Prior to her appointment, Lopez has made a name as an advocate fighting mining.
She believes “business interests” were factored into the CA’s decision.
“It is very sad that in the CA, clearly, business interests have run the day. I think that needs to be reevaluated,” Lopez said. “How can a body mandated to make decisions based on common good make a decision based on business interests?”
She commended the senators who voted “according to their conscience.”
“It is the constitutional right of every Filipino to a clean and health environment. It is our right in the Constitution, and that is premier above all, and it is the duty of the government to grant the people this right,” Lopez said.
If only possible, according to Lopez, President Duterte himself should be the next DENR secretary. “(DENR) needs guts and tapang (courage) because you have to step on business interests. What the job also needs is development experience.”
As ad interim Environment secretary, Lopez ordered the closure of 22 mining companies.
She also required suspended mines to pay P2 million per hectare of disturbed land./PN
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