P50-M offer to dump me just gossip, says DENR chief Lopez

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

It was just “tsismis” (gossip)—not accusations, not news.

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Wednesday cleared the air on a controversial statement she made to the Rotary Club of Makati on Tuesday while she averred to moves to block her confirmation by the congressional Commission on Appointments.

During her speech at the gathering, which was attended by around 50 members of the club and covered by various media outfits, Lopez said: “I was told every congressman was offered P50 million if they voted against me. Well, people talk. Let the dice fall where it may.”

In a video she posted on her Facebook page on Wednesday, Lopez explained she wasn’t making accusations but was just repeating what she heard from the grapevine.

“I have heard—you know how people talk—that there was a kitty where every congressman was offered P50 million if they voted against me. That’s just what I heard. It’s tsismis, there’s no evidence, there’s no anything. And I said that casually. It’s not a news bit,” Lopez said.

“It’s just tsismis, and they turned tsismis into a headline,” Lopez said, reacting to the reports of her statement.