PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday expressed disappointment over the Commission on Appointments removal of Regina Lopez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Duterte said that there are things that he cannot control but conceded that is how democracy works.
“It’s a pity about Gina,” he said in Filipino in a speech before orthopedic surgeons in Davao City. “I really like her passion. But you know how it is. This is democracy.’’ He also inferred heavy lobbying.
“I can’t control everything. I want to but I share powers. And that is the process of checks and balances,” he added. “The President appoints, but the appointee undergoes the scrutiny of the Commission on Appointments.”
Lopez was rejected by a vote of 16-8 by secret voting.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, meanwhile, said that the stay order issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Lopez’s orders for affected mining companies to pay more than P2 million per hectare of land, will continue until Duterte appoints a new environment chief.
Lopez became the second Cabinet secretary under the Duterte administration to be rejected by the commission. The first was Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., who was turned down over questions about his citizenship.
Lopez’s rejection came despite strong support for her from Duterte, who had threatened to shut down the mining industry completely if the CA turned down her appointment.
Lawmakers appealed to Lopez’s supporters to respect the CA decision.
A Teacher party-list Rep. Julieta Cortuna, a member of the CA, cried foul over criticisms that business interests swayed the commission members to vote against Lopez.
Cortuna said it was never enough that Lopez had “passion” for the job.
“Leadership, for me, is a comprehensive job [that needs] both technical expertise, and above all, there [are] existing laws that no one should be above of,” Cortuna said.
“It just cannot be anyone’s prerogative to set aside money based on what you believe [in]. It cannot be arbitrary,” Cortuna added, referring to a memorandum Lopez issued in January imposing a P2-million fee per hectare of land that was “disturbed” by mining companies.
Lopez was grilled by some CA members on the same issue when she faced the body Tuesday.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Thursday welcomed the decision of CA to reject Lopez’s appointment.
“Her advisers did her in. The policies she implemented seemed not well thought out,” Barbers, a staunch critic of Lopez, said.
Earlier, he denounced Lopez’s decision to shut down or suspend mining companies which operate in his district.
On Wednesday, the CA rejected Lopez’s appointment, ending a bitter tug-of-war over Duterte’s controversial choice for the position.
Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting said Lopez’s rejection by the CA “affirms that mining is a crucial issue that needs a closer look by government and the people.”
Senator Panfilo Lacson, a CA member, said the commission rejected Lopez because she was not qualified for the job.
Worse, Lacson said, Lopez admittedly arrogated unto herself the authority that is not prescribed under the existing laws of the land.
“That makes her potentially dangerous as a department head. Further, she has authoritarian tendencies,” Lacson said.
“On a personal note, I hate being intimidated and pressured in the performance of my duties as a legislator and member of the CA,” he added.
The senator said Lopez’s supporters can speculate all they want why he voted to reject her confirmation but “these are my reasons and nothing more.”
Lacson said the confirmation of a presidential appointee always follows two basic criteria: fitness and qualification. Passion and enthusiasm do not automatically translate to these, he said.
Senator Leila de Lima, a critic of the President, expressed dismay at Lopez’s rejection.
Also on Thursday, Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin said the Mineral Industry Coordinating Council is ready to review the mining industry’s performance in three weeks.
“We want to start soon but we want also to follow the correct processes… Maybe we can start in three weeks’ time, but we will try to start as soon as possible,” he said.
He said a committee was in the process of finalizing the list of who will compose the different teams of independent experts that will conduct the review. He said after the list was finalized, it would be submitted to the MICC for approval.
Agabin said the mining review could be completed within three months.
He said the review would cover not just the 28 mines shuttered or suspended earlier by the Environment Department but all 311 mining contracts in the country—in keeping with the directive of President Duterte for a comprehensive review during a Cabinet meeting in February. With Maricel V. Cruz, Julito G. Rada and Macon Ramos-Araneta