Sec. Gina Lopez. Inquirer/Grig C. Montegrande
Environment Secretary Gina Lopez鈥檚 chances of getting the approval of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) remain hanging in the balance as the body is expected to decide on her fate on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the CA committee on environment and natural resources terminated its deliberations on Lopez鈥檚 appointment. It will meet again on Wednesday morning to decide whether or not to recommend to the floor her nomination.
鈥淏ukas na madedesiyunan kung confirm o hindi,鈥� Senator Manny Pacquiao, who presided over the hearing, told reporters.
Asked about Lopez鈥檚 chances of getting the CA nod, Pacquiao said: 鈥淔ifty-fifty.鈥�
搁贰础顿:听Pacquiao: Lopez鈥檚 confirmation as DENR chief 鈥�50-50鈥�
鈥淢erong ayaw, merong gusto. Iba-iba e, hindi natin makuha 鈥榶ung mga comment,鈥� the neophyte senator added.
Pacquiao, a member of the majority bloc in the Senate, though assured that he would vote for the confirmation of the Secretary.
鈥淧artner kami niyan e, paanong hindi? Suportado ko naman siya dahil environment din ako e,鈥� he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte聽 reappointed Lopez after she failed to get the CA鈥檚 approval before Congress went on a six-week break on March 15.
During the hearing, Lopez assured the Commission that she would not do anything illegal in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
鈥淚 wanna assure the Commission that I鈥檓 a law abiding citizen. I will never ever, ever, ever do anything in DENR, which is against the law,鈥� she said.
鈥淢y temperament is just passionate but it doesn鈥檛 mean that I鈥檓 gonna break the law,鈥� the Secretary added. JE/rga
READ: Extreme? Gina Lopez says she鈥檚 just principled, passionate