Political interest won over public welfare on case of Gina Lopez, church official says

A Church official on Wednesday said the rejection of the nomination of Gina Lopez to head the Environment department is expected, noting the supposed links of Commission of Appointments (CA) members to mining firms.

“The decision is expected, given the powerful lobby of the Chamber of Mines and the vested interest of many politicians who wantonly opted to sacrifice the interest of the environment and the poor over their own agenda,” said Fr. Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of Caritas Philippines, in a news entry on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

“We need to judge now the CA members and campaign not to reelect those who voted "No" to environmental reform agenda being pushed by Gina Lopez,” Gariguez added, noting that "political interests won over public welfare."

The CA voted to reject the nomination of Lopez to lead the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

She is the second Cabinet official appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to be rejected by the Commission.

Lopez had faced three CA committee hearings, answering questions about her order to close 23 mining operations and suspend five others last February, and her competence to lead the agency.

Lopez earlier said members of the CA were supposedly influenced by "business interests."

“If government co-opts to big businesses, then what hope does the poor have? What message are we giving here? If you wanna be confirmed, never go against big businesses,” Lopez said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/GMA News