Greenpeace sets ‘direct action’ vs. CA decision on Lopez’s appointment

Enraged by the Commission of Appointments' rejection of the appointment of Secretary Gina Lopez last week, environment activist Greenpeace vowed Sunday to undertake "direct action" to express their anger at the decision of the bicameral body.

In an advisory, Greenpeace said that they will also call on President Rodrigo Duterte to reappoint Lopez as head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Before the "direct action" members and supporters of the group will meet at a designated area in Quezon City on Monday.

Greenpeace is known worldwide for its "nonviolent direct action" which involves sit-ins, strikes, workplace occupations, blockades, hacktivism, among others.

But the advisory did not elaborate on the "direct action" Greenpeace is planning to do on Monday.

Last Wednesday right after the CA thumbed down on its third hearing Lopez's appointment, Greenpeace  executive director for Southeast Asia Yeb Saño said that destructive industries have won because they still wield influence over Philippine lawmakers.

In a statement, Saño, former climate change commissioner, said that what happened to Lopez's appointment "is very disappointing and worrying, and shows how destructive industries continue to hold lawmakers by their necks.

“We were made to believe, through her appointment last year, that reforms, environmental protection, and social justice are still possible in this country."

“But the CA, dominated by politicians with questionable loyalty, some of whom are receiving campaign contributions from various mining interests, blocked what could have been the golden era of Philippine environmental rehabilitation and protection under Lopez," he said. —LBG, GMA News