Duterte reappoints Gina Lopez as environment secretary

Gina Lopez meets with President-elect Rodrigo Duterte last May as she accepts his offer to become the environment secretary of his administration. SCREENGRAB FROM RTVM

MANILA — President Duterte has reappointed environment activist Gina Lopez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Interestingly, Mr. Duterte made the announcement during the inaugural switch-on of a new coal power plant in Concepcion, Iloilo, held at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang on Monday evening.

“I reappointed her because she was bypassed (by the Commission on Appointments). I like her (because) she is very strict,” the President said, referring to Lopez’s staunch defense of government regulations against pollution and over-extraction of minerals.

“I like that she is not corrupt. I like that she cannot be corrupted. I like that. Why? Because I want my country at least relatively safe from all predators of all sorts,” he added.

Lopez has been known to campaign against coal plants and mining before the President gave her the environment portfolio, a move that surprised even her fellow environmentalists.  SFM