The Rejection of Regina Lopez as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Secretary by the Commission on Appointment

The Panel of the Commission on Appointment (COA) rejected the appointment of Regina

Lopez as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary due to her

firm commitment to protect the environment from these mining company/corporations.

Regina Lopez said in an interview that "It is unfortunate that business interest have in fact

run the day - because that's really what it is. It is true that there politicians and lawmakers who

are either involve and has an interest in the mining company/corporation and objected her

appointment.

Another interesting statement of Regina Lopez were “If you want to be confirmed, don't

go against big businesses”. If she did not criticize these mining company/corporations, she might

be appointed as the DENR Secretary but the environmental laws might not be implemented

thoroughly.

From the statement of the Yeb Saño, the Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast

Asia, he said that: “We were made to believe, through her appointment last year that reforms,

environmental protection, and social justice are still possible in this country. We thought that this

administration is serious in implementing change by appointing a true environmentalist in the

DENR.
 President Duterte even appraised Regina Lopez and said that I’d rather follow Gina

Lopez than get ₱70B in mining revenue.

There are even Senators who admired Regina Lopez for her passion, integrity and will to

implement the environmental laws. However, we had lost the opportunity to have someone who

cares for the sake of poor people and love for the environment.