HOURS before the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) rejected the appointment of Environment Secretary-designate Gina Lopez, a fourth graft complaint was filed against her before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Lorna Kapunan, the legal counsel of Citinickel Mines and Development Corporation (CMDC) has filed complaints against Lopez over her alleged imposition of a P130-million performance bond to the said company as means of rehabilitation of disturbed land areas in Palawan.
The mining firm accused Lopez of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Anti-Red Tape Act, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for imposing the said requirement that is not mandated under the mining law.
Lopez has defended the P2-million requirement per hectare bond she required from the CMDC in a press conference on Wednesday after the Commission on Appointments rejected her ad interim appointment.
"What's wrong with giving P2 million for the farmers? You (mining companies) are making much money for the farmlands devastated by mining," she said.
"Isn't it the right thing to do?! Isn't it right to give P2 million to give it to the farmers when you destroyed their farmlands?" she added.
The first complaint against Lopez before the Ombudsman was filed by Air Board Company over her alleged inaction on DENR's defective air quality monitors.
The second suit was filed by the Chamber of Mines for her alleged violation of the due process when she halted 23 mining operations.
In February, Lopez ordered 23 mines shut and five others suspended. She also canceled 75 contracts for mining projects near watersheds.
The third complaint filed against the rejected environment secretary was over her alleged act of lobbying with the Department of Energy to award a $100-million contract to a French company.
She was accused of getting an all-expenses-paid trip to Paris out of the said transaction. (SunStar Philippines)
