Number of oppositors vs. Gina Lopez giving Pacquiao a headache

The number of oppositors against the confirmation of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez is giving Senator Manny Pacquiao a headache.

Pacquiao is the chairman of the Commission on Appointments (CA) committee on environment and natural resources, which will hear Lopez's confirmation.

“Sumakit na nga ulo ko sa dami ng oppositors na naka-abang and then siyempre as chairman, papakinggan natin yung panig nila and yung ibang members, hindi natin mapipigil sila kung ayaw nila,” Pacquiao said.

At least 17 sworn oppositions have been filed before the committee as of February 22. Ten other oppositions were filed against “the policy to close the mining operations.”

Pacquiao said that while he was in favor of Lopez being confirmed by the CA committee, the decision is not entirely up to him.

The CA committee on environment and natural resources has 17 members, composed of lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate. There are seven other ex-officio members.

Pacquiao said some CA members were opposed to Lopez's confirmation.

“Meron dito [sa Senate], meron din sa House, halos sa House [ang] mas maraming kontra,” he said.

“Sa’kin basta lumalabag sa batas — may batas naman tayo. Ang sakin, wag naman sarado isipan natin pero ayaw naman natin masira yung kalikasan natin, abusuhin environment natin so balanced lang,” Pacquiao said.

Lopez earlier said that the odds are stacked up against her confirmation considering that the vice chairman of the CA holds interests in mining.

"I mean, he's a ... Ronnie Zamora. And the (CA) by history, everybody knows it ... it votes as a block," she said referring to San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, the head of the House contingent to the CA.

Zamora's elder brother Manuel Zamora Jr. is the chairman of Nickel Asia Corp., the country’s largest nickel miner.

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

The CA has yet to schedule Lopez's confirmation hearing after it was reset due to the reorganization at the Senate. It was supposed to be heard on March 1.

Senator JV Ejercito said he only knows him and Senator Loren Legarda to be openly supporting the confirmation of Lopez, so far.

“Once in a blue moon na may isang tao na malakas ang loob at ipaglalaban yung dapat at maglalaks ng loob na labanan ang mining firms…Bihira ang taong ganito na babangga sa mga higante,” Ejercito said.

Legarda, for her part, said she is trying to convince other CA members to vote for the confirmation of Lopez.

“Gina knows that I support her and even more than support, trying to convince others to help support her. Of course, that’s another matter sa Commission on Appointments,” she said.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, also a member of the CA, doubts that Lopez will be able to hurdle the appointments body in one hearing.

“I’m going to listen because you need someone who will be very strict sa environment but someone who will not kill the industry and she’s saying that that’s her; so let’s give her a chance but let’s also give a chance sa mga umaangal,” Cayetano said. —NB, GMA News