Lopez Confirmation reset to May 3

MANILA, Philippines - The confirmation of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez has been postponed anew and reset to May 3.

Lopez told reporters during the Wildlife Project launch yesterday that she asked Sen. Manny Pacquiao to reset the hearing because she would leave the country this Friday, and there might not be enough time for the 19 persons opposing her confirmation to grill her.

Pacquiao chairs the Commission on Appointments (CA)’s environment committee.

This will be the third time that Lopez’s confirmation hearing was rescheduled. Lopez has failed to get the nod of the CA and has just been re-appointed by President Duterte.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) questioned the decision, saying the May 3 schedule is too far off.

“We feel that her confirmation and hearing should be heard already given her recent actions and decisions on the mining industry,” COMP legal and policy vice president Ronald Recidoro told The STAR.

“Our concern here really is that this is her third bypass already. May 3 is too far off. We’re hoping her confirmation be heard sooner before the recess of Congress,” he added.

The chamber had filed its opposition to Lopez’s confirmation due to her alleged bias against the large-scale mining industry.

Furthermore, Lopez is unfazed by the criminal and administrative charges filed against her before the Office of the Ombudsman following an alleged questionable project worth P1 billion.

“I didn’t buy any equipment during my term so how can you blame me for something I didn’t buy? They are just trying to bring me down,” Lopez said.

Lopez was referring to a newspaper report that came out yesterday accusing her of graft. – With Alexis Romero