CA member denies Gina’s bribery claim

Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Regina Lopez   AFP PHOTO

Valenzuela City Rep. Wes Gatchalian, a member of the Commission on Appointments (CA), has categorically denied the accusations of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez that members of the commission were offered money to deny her confirmation.

“No one offered me even a single centavo to deny the confirmation of Secretary Gina Lopez. This information clearly had malicious intentions to cast aspersions toward the commission as a whole,” Gatchalian said following Lopez accusations that every CA member was offered P50 million to reject her confirmation.

“There is no price tag to my integrity and no one can sway my vote one way or the other,” Gatchalian added.

Lopez made the accusations amid the backlash of her controversial decision to close down 23 mines and scrap 75 mining contracts.

The closures sparked protests and raised questions as to her competence and qualifications to handle a crucial department.

“I believe that all of these accusations are premature since the good secretary is due to face the commission only on March 1. Until then we cannot decide or conclude on her qualification,” Gatchalian said.