Philippines Rejects Environment Chief Who Took On Mining Interests
By AURORA ALMENDRALMAY 3, 2017
A former environmental activist who cracked down on the Philippine mining industry as the country’s acting environment
secretary was forced from her job on Wednesday when Congress denied her confirmation to the post.
In March, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines filed a complaint against Ms. Lopez, calling her decision to close mining operations "baseless
and illegal." During her confirmation hearings, lawmakers grilled Ms. Lopez on her knowledge of the mining industry, challenged her competence and questioned the legality of her orders.
Mr. Saño, who has argued that government corruption has allowed mining companies to pollute the environment for decades, accused the body voting on
the appointment of being "dominated by politicians with questionable loyalty," with some receiving campaign contributions from mining interests.
" Ms. Lopez said during a news conference after the vote against her confirmation. that We planned many things,
Yeb Saño, executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said in a statement to reporters
that the decision "shows how destructive industries continue to hold Philippine lawmakers by their necks." Please verify you’re not a robot by clicking the box.
Congress twice deferred decisions on her appointment after contentious confirmation hearings in November and again in March.
