Pres. Duterte revealed his claim over the rejection of Lopez’s appointment.
DUTERTE – Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte claimed that ‘lobby money’ plays a role behind the rejection of the appointment of Gina Lopez as the secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The rejection of the appointment of Gina Lopez as the environment secretary has undeniably sparked mixed reactions and elicited various comments. While there are those who duly respected the verdict of the panel of the Commission on Appointment (CA), there were those who were saddened by it.
Based on a recent news report in Inquirer, Pres. Duterte has claimed that “lobby money” has a role behind the rejection of Lopez.
According to the news report, Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano, the one who filed an impeachment rap against the 72-year-old President, affirmed that Pres. Duterte was “playing Pontius Pilate”.
Alejano, in a statement, expressed that the Chief Executive’s claim is an “assault” on the CA’s integrity and as well as the reputation and integrity of the House of Representatives.
The Magdalo Representative expressed that he will be lodging a resolution calling for a probe on the claim of the President that “lobby money” was behind Lopez’s rejection as DENR secretary based on the report.
Meanwhile, the assistant minority floor leader of the Commission, Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas, one of those who reportedly did not support the confirmation of Lopez’s appointment as environment secretary, expressed that he has a clear conscience.
Based on a previous news report, the founding chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), Dante Jimenez, has previously expressed the possibility of asking Pres. Duterte on how Lopez can be possibly retained.