(Eagle News) — For President Rodrigo Duterte, there was a “conspiracy” that led to Gina Lopez being rejected as environment secretary.
“I think there was a conspiracy to remove her. And they did,” Duterte said in a speech during the celebration of the 31st anniversary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
According to Duterte, Lopez at that time, was “doing well.”
He said she was “going against moneyed people and she was against the destruction of her native land.”
“So nung si Ma’am Gina tinanggal ng Commission on Appointments, it was maybe because she became very strong against the business sa mining industry,” he said.
Lopez, an anti-mining advocate, was the first environment secretary under Duterte’s term, but she was rejected by the Commission on Appointments.
Several members of the CA have mining interests.
Lopez was replaced by former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Roy Cimatu.