Philippines Rejects Environment Chief Who Took On Mining Interests<br />By AURORA ALMENDRALMAY 3, 2017<br />A former environmental activist who cracked down on the Philippine mining industry as the country’s acting environment<br />secretary was forced from her job on Wednesday when Congress denied her confirmation to the post.<br />In March, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines filed a complaint against Ms. Lopez, calling her decision to close mining operations "baseless<br />and illegal." During her confirmation hearings, lawmakers grilled Ms. Lopez on her knowledge of the mining industry, challenged her competence and questioned the legality of her orders.<br />Mr. Saño, who has argued that government corruption has allowed mining companies to pollute the environment for decades, accused the body voting on<br />the appointment of being "dominated by politicians with questionable loyalty," with some receiving campaign contributions from mining interests.<br />" Ms. Lopez said during a news conference after the vote against her confirmation. that We planned many things,<br />Yeb Saño, executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said in a statement to reporters<br />that the decision "shows how destructive industries continue to hold Philippine lawmakers by their necks." Please verify you’re not a robot by clicking the box.<br />Congress twice deferred decisions on her appointment after contentious confirmation hearings in November and again in March.
