Lopez fears conflict of interest to derail her CA confirmation

The way Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez sees it, the odds are stacked up against her confirmation considering that the vice chairman of the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) holds interests in mining.

"The problem with the CA – I will just really be open about it – the chairman of the Commission on Appointments in Congress is a miner," Lopez told reporters in a press conference on Tuesday.

"I mean, he's a ... Ronnie Zamora. And the (CA) by history, everybody knows it ... it votes as a block," the DENR secretary-designate said, noting that the March 1 confirmation hearing on her appointment was postponed.

Earlier  this month, Lopez ordered to close 23 mining operations and suspend five others following a months-long audit. She also canceled 75 mining contracts.

San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora heads the House contingent of the powerful Commission on Appointments. Zamora's elder brother Manuel Zamora Jr. is the chairman of Nickel Asia Corp., the country’s largest nickel miner.

"The problem right now is the head of the CA in Congress is into mining. It's really scary," Lopez said.

She noted that three mining operations of the Zamora family passed the audit, although the DENR did not now back then that the lawmaker was involved in the mining companies.

"We passed three, which is Rio Tuba, Taganito, and I think one mine in Dinagat because it wasn't in a watershed. But in Hinatuan, we failed it," she said

Nickel Asia owns majority stakes in Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. in Palawan, Taganito Mining Corp. in Surigao del Norte, and Cagdianao Mining Corp. in Dinagat Islands.

"For me, when the head of the CA in Congress – and by history they vote as a block –has mining , it feels like parang malabo 'di ba," Lopez said.

Asked why her confirmation hearing was postponed, Lopez said it ming be because of the reorganization at the Senate. "I think, the ... assigning who will be in the CA in the Senate ... I find politics magulo," she said.

Lopez clarified she was not "not accusing anyone" of any wrong doing, that stating the mining interests of Zamora was just "a matter of policy" for her.

"I feel that whoever is in the CA must have no vested business interest, because the only one reason for appointment should be public service," Lopez said.

"You choose the people who you think can best serve the country, and you don't choose whether it will affect your business interest or not. That taints the decision you have," she said.

"The CA is a key, noble, important institution. It's where you make decisions on whom you think is best fitted to serve the country. That should be the only criteria and not anything else," she added. — VDS, GMA News