Chamber of Mines plans to file conflict of interest complaint vs. Gina Lopez

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines is planning to file a complaint against Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez for her recent trip to France which was supposedly funded by the Solar Farm Company of Eco Global, according to a "24 Oras" report on  Friday.

JB Baylon, vice president of Nickel Asia Corp., said it could be a matter of conflict of interest as Lopez has been asking the Department of Energy to give Eco Global a permit.

"If she would text a DOE official for a friend's company, will she text a DOE official for her own family's interest? I would like to give her the benefit of the doubt, the answer would be no. But it's quite strange that she was doing this for Eco Global," Baylon said.

Nickel Asia is a member of the chamber, an industry lobby group.

The report showed Lopez's text message to Renewable Energy Management Bureau Chief Mario Marasigan which asked for the swift issuance of permit to Eco Global.

Ronald Recidoro, vice president for legal and policy of Chamber of Mines, raised Lopez's recent trip to France supposedly sponsored by Eco Global.

"Baka doon sa pagbibiyahe ni Sec. Lopez sa France na bayad ng Eco Global ay meron tayong possible cases ng corruption. Inaaral namin ngayon and siguro makikita natin ang developments in the coming days."

But Lopez said her trip to Paris was upon invitation of the French government.

"The trip is on the account of the Pasig River project. I went to Paris for two reasons, to get help for the Pasig River, and look into the possibilities of renewable energy for the country," Lopez said in a text message to GMA News Online.

"Eco Global headed by JP Henry was the French government's choice for implementation of their projects, not mine," she added.

Mining stakeholders are also questioning Lopez's competence to lead the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, claiming she has no idea about the mining industry and has been merely relying on information from her consultants.

On Thursday, Lopez  faced the Commission on Appointments (CA) for the second successive day. More than 20 oppositors, raising objections to her nomination, deluged the confirmation hearing by the CA Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

The CA committee will hold a caucus to discuss her nomination on Tuesday, March 14.

But Lopez told the CA she will be in the US for a retreat.

Her appointment is considered bypassed if the CA fails to come up with a decision before the Congress adjourns on March 18. —Anna Felicia S. Bajo/VDS/JST, GMA News