Lopez tells CA member Zamora: 'Your brother totally killed a mountain'

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Wednesday told San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora that his brother "totally killed the mountain" which the latter's company had been mining for the last two decades.

Lopez said this during the Commission on Appointments' (CA) committee on environment and natural resources hearing, where Zamora is an ex-officio member. 

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

"Sorry, Mr. Chairman, but that's your mine," Lopez said as she made a presentation before the CA panel. 

Lopez was referring to Hinatuan Mining Corp., the operations of which she ordered closed last month.

Hinatuan was earlier told that its operation has "impaired the functions of the watershed in the area," according to a copy of the closure order.

Zamora corrected Lopez and said: "My brother's mine."

"Sir, you better tell him to behave na. They've been mining this for 20 years and the mountain was really big, and the mountain got small, small and that's not legal at all... I could tell your brother that he totally killed the mountain," Lopez told Zamora.

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

Lopez said she was merely following the law. 

"The DENR should adhere to the principles of sustained development, which meets  the needs of the citizens without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs. I'm just following the law," she said. 

Lopez's appointment has 23 oppositors, while 12 others filed oppositions against the closure order of mining operations. — MDM/KBK, GMA News