Lopez unfazed by possible graft raps

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez is unfazed by possible graft charges that mining firms may file against her.

Lopez stood firm on her decision to close down 28 operations and cancel 75 mining contracts.

“I have followed the law at every step of the way. I am backed up by the Constitution and law and everything I have done is within my powers as DENR ( Department of Environment and Natural

Resources) secretary,” Lopez told The STAR.

Lopez was responding to claims of the mining industry that she is violating the Revised Administrative Code of 1987 of the Civil Service Commission, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and Republic Act 3019 or the Anti- Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Industry sources bared majority of the affected mining companies are planning to file graft cases against Lopez for lack of due process in her orders to close down the operations of several mining firms.

Lopez refused to address the possible graft charges, saying it might hamper her scheduled confirmation by the Commission on Appointments (CA).

“I don’t do things to get confirmation. I do things because it’s the right thing to do. I just let the dice fall where they may,” Lopez said.

“We simply cannot and must not mine our watersheds. We have a severe water shortage coming because of climate change,” she added.

Lopez has failed to get the nod of the CA and was just reappointed by President Duterte as DENR chief.

Her confirmation was originally slated last Feb.15 but she requested to have it rescheduled to March 1.

In a separate interview over the weekend, Ronald Recidoro, legal and policy vice president of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP), maintained companies that will choose to file cases against Lopez have the right to do so as stated in their contracts.

“We insist on due process. We feel that her announcements failed to comply with due process. She cancelled and suspended operations without giving firms the opportunity to rebut the finding against them or remediate the alleged violations,” Recidoro said.