Gina, 3 others bypassed by CA
The Commission on Appointments (CA) is effectively bypassing four members of President Duterte’s Cabinet, including controversial Environment Secretary Gina Lopez.
“We will not tackle their appointments in our last plenary session on Wednesday. That means they are bypassed, and the President can reappoint them,” Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano lll, who is CA majority leader, said yesterday.
He named Rafael Mariano of agrarian reform, Paulyn Jean Ubial of health and Judy
Taguiwalo of social welfare and development as the three other bypassed Cabinet members.
The last remaining unconfirmed Cabinet member, Education Secretary Leonor Briones, could be tackled, according to Albano.
“She’s the least controversial among the five whose nominations are still pending,” he said, adding he does not think the committee on environment and natural resources would vote on Lopez’s nomination on Tuesday.
“I am not in favor of a vote because she will be absent,” he added.
Lopez is abroad on a personal trip.
She appeared on Wednesday before the committee chaired by Sen. Manny Pacquiao and bluntly told the House-CA contingent head, San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, that his brother “has killed a big mountain.”
The Zamoras own Nickel Asia Corp., one of the biggest mining companies in the country.
A Nickel Asia mine in Surigao del Norte is one of scores of mining sites Lopez has ordered closed.
Lopez’s supporters have urged Zamora and other CA members with mining interests to inhibit in the consideration and vote on her appointment.
Aside from Lopez, Mariano, Ubial and Taguiwalo have become controversial among congressmen and senators.
Some landed lawmakers are questioning Mariano’s advocacy of prohibiting the conversion of agricultural lands for residential, commercial or industrial uses to preserve whatever is left of farming areas.
In the case of Ubial, Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque has filed before the CA an opposition to her confirmation for her alleged “ambivalence” in the controversial P3.5-billion procurement of a new dengue vaccine by her predecessor Janette Garin.
In a memorandum to the House of Representatives committee on health, Ubial raised several red flags in the vaccine purchase and in the vaccination program itself.
As for Taguiwalo, congressmen have resented her labeling as pork barrel certain funds they have allocated to her agency for financial assistance for their poor constituents.
In one hearing, she told lawmakers they should not have a “sense of entitlement” to such funds because the money does not belong to them.
“Neither does it belong to you,” one congressman retorted. “It is the money of the people, for whom we have allocated it through your agency.”
‘No Cabinet vacancy’
Speaking at the inauguration last night of the PTV- 4 hub in the Cordillera region, Duterte declared that there is no vacancy in the Cabinet, indicating that he supports Lopez all the way despite her failure to hurdle the last CA hearing.
“If you have something against Gina Lopez, kindly rethink. Look at her passion,” Duterte told reporters in a briefing.
While he recognizes the provisions under the mining law, Duterte said he supports Lopez, noting further the ill effects of mining on the environment and the community.
The Chief Executive added he could look at other possible areas to make up for some P70 billion in revenues that would allegedly be lost from mining if firms withdraw or are closed down.
At the same time, Duterte also said he is not appointing whistle-blower Sandra Cam to any Cabinet post, contrary to the latter’s claim during a verbal tussle with an airport employee over VIP privileges last month.
He, however, would be ready to help Cam find a job if she wants it.
Presidential prerogative
Duterte may reappoint Lopez if she is bypassed by the CA, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said yesterday.
he Palace executive did not discount that possibility even after Lopez had faced tough opposition during the CA hearings that questioned her credentials and raised issues on her move to suspend the operations of over 50 mining firms for alleged environment violations
The President, Abella said, has the prerogative to re-appoint Lopez if she is bypassed by the body.
“On the other hand, the sentiment of the President apparently is (that) he understands and he is open to the statements of Secretary-designate Gina Lopez.
So, the President respects where she is coming from,” the spokesman said.
At the same time, Duterte also understands the point of view of the lawmakers and the secretary’s critics.
“There are varied opinions and (they have) to be weighed. But as far as I know, as far as we can see, we can tell that the President seems to appreciate the concern of Ms. Lopez regarding the environment,” he said.
Lopez failed to get the nod of the CA body last week after many oppositors questioned her decisions and her technical ability in understanding the mining operations in the country.
A number of senators and congressmen, who are part of the CA, have also raised questions on Lopez’ policies.
‘Woman of Courage’
For having stood up for the general welfare of women, indigenous peoples and the environment versus the interests of a few, Lopez has been conferred the “Woman of Courage” recognition by militant women’s group Gabriela.
“We bestow upon Secretary Lopez this simple yet meaningful acclamation for her principled pursuit of defending the country’s remaining natural resources, putting first the welfare of succeeding generations before the gains of wealthy business groups.
Lopez has demonstrated that she can remain firm in her stand of declaring our mineral and timber resources for the sole benefit of Filipinos,” Gabriela secretary-general Joms Salvador stated.
Salvador cited Lopez’s defense of the rights of indigenous peoples and their right to decide their future.
Despite ordering the closure of 23 mining companies, Lopez said she is not anti-mining but is only doing her job of promoting social justice and protecting the environment.
Everything they do at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, according to Lopez, is guided by the principle of social justice and is in accordance with the law.