Gina Lopez 'deeply and profoundly touched' by Duterte

Environment Secretary Regina Paz "Gina" Lopez on Sunday said she was "touched" with President Rodrigo Duterte announcement to keep her in the Cabinet and forego P70 billion in mining revenues.

"...(I) am deeply and profoundly touched by the support of the (P)resident," Lopez said in a post on her Facebook account.

"This is what [I] know of the man. He is the real thing. It[']s not plastic at all. He deeeeeply cares for our people... and he deeeeeply cares for the country," she added.

Duterte said on Saturday night that he is willing to let go of the P70-billion earnings the government collects from mining operations.

"We can live without it. I would rather follow Gina. Maghanap-buhay na lang tayo ng iba, get the P70 billion somewhere else and preserve the environment. 'Wag na tayong magbolahan," he said on Saturday.

On her post, Lopez said Duterte is "humble, unassuming, and he cares."

"I continue to be touched by his courage at supporting my controversial decisions.. my heart continues to resonate with his zero tolerance for corruption - and his stance at getting things done and done quickly.... he is the real thing," she said.

"I will continue to be his ally for all that is good and true and noble for the country...." she added.

The confirmation of Lopez — who will be overseas for a retreat — as Environment Secretary will "definitely" be bypassed, Commission on Appointments (CA) Committee on Environment Chair Senator Manny Pacquiao said Thursday.

There were a total of 23 oppositors during Lopez' hearing due to her tough stand against mining, as she ordered the closure of 23 mines and the cancellation of 75 mineral sharing production agreements.

Before Lopez's appearance before the CA, Duterte urged its members to allow the Environment secretary to present her case and review the effects of mining on the environment. —Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/ALG, GMA News