Gina Lopez slapped with new graft complaint over recycler’s deal with DOE

A former official of a recycling firm has filed a graft complaint against Environment Secretary Gina Lopez over her alleged role in the "fast-tracking" of the company's Renwable Energy Service Contract with the Department of Energy.

According to the complaint before the Ombudsman filed by Vienna Tañada, former business development officer of Ecoglobal, Inc., Lopez allegedly pressured DOE director Mario Marasigan in the processing of the firm's RESC.

Tañada further alleged Ecoglobal funded Lopez's trip to Paris in October 2016.

"Given the amount of influence that Sec. Lopez has over the entire process, I felt that it would therefore not be proper for her to be directly dealing with Mr. Henry and influencing the DOE for the processing of the application for an RESC as this will put doubts on her impartiality in relation to the transaction, especially that she will, in the future, be directly involved in the expansion plans that Ecoglobal has that she if fully aware of," the graft complaint read.

Jean-Philippe Albert Guy Henry is the founder and chief executive officer of Ecoglobal.

"I have been advised that the actuations of Sec. Lopez constitutes a violation of Republic Act No. 3019  or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act," it added.

The complaint said Lopez may also be held liable for having received the favor of going to a Paris trip, which costs more than P2 million and supposedly paid by Ecoglobal.

"Sec. Lopez received pecuniary benefit from Ecoglobal in the form of an all-expense paid trip to Paris, France, which incidentally happened while the RESC application was pending," the complaint read.

"It is of no doubt that the trip was given to Sec. Lopez as a favor for helping Ecoglobal obtain the approval of the RESC application," it added.

Lopez earlier 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 previous 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.

On Monday, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) filed a complaint against Lopez for allegedly causing “undue injury” to the mining companies she ordered suspended or closed.

In January, a complaint was also filed against Lopez over her supposed inaction on allegations about a faulty air monitoring system in use since 2006. —NB, GMA News

[Update: The case was eventually dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman on September 15, 2017.]