“Sayang si Gina.”
This was the reaction of President Rodrigo Duterte to the Commission on Appointments’ rejection of Gina Lopez’s nomination as environment secretary on Wednesday.
“I really liked her passion,” he said, noting that he made a pitch for her during a gathering in Malacanang.
In his speech during the Orthopedic Association Convention on Thursday, the President said, however, that not everything was within his “control.”
He said this was a democracy after all.
“..And lobby money talks….I am the head of the executive department. Congress is controlled by the Senate President and House Speaker, the Lower House and the Upper House. The Supreme Court is a collegial body but the affairs are administered by the court administration,” he said.
He said the President “appoints, but the appointee has to undergo scrutiny of the CA, which is a combination of the committee of Lower House and the Upper House which is the Senate.”
“May mga tao akong gusto..pero I share powers. And that is the process of checks and balances,” he added.
The appointment of Lopez, who has ordered the shutdown and suspension of several mining firms which reportedly failed an audit done by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, was rejected by 16 members of the powerful CA.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, who was among those who voted against her, said in a statement on Thursday that he believed Lopez was “not fit for the job,” nor was “qualified.”
“Worse, she admittedly arrogated unto herself the authority which is not prescribed under the existing laws of the land. That makes her potentially dangerous as a department head. Further, she has authoritarian tendencies,” he said.
Only eight—Senators Manny Pacquiao, Loren Legarda, Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Tito Sotto, Ralph Recto and JV Ejercito—voted for her confirmation. (With a report from Meanne Corvera, Eagle News Service)