Kinuwestiyon ng environmental groups ang appointment ng dating Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Roy Cimatu bilang bagong kalihim ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), na dating pinamunuan ni Gina Lopez.
Sabi ng Greenpeace-Philippines political campaigner na si Vince Cinches na nag-aalala sila na si Pangulong Duterte ay mabilisang nagtalaga “without first addressing the issues raised in Secretary Lopez’s term and the circumstances surrounding her rejection.
“We hope that these won’t be swept under the rug. We are a bit worried why President Duterte is in a hurry to appoint a new secretary, and also disappointed why he did not firmly stand by Gina Lopez, given that she seems to be one of the few who are earnest in implementing reforms toward positive change,” dagdag niya.
Bago lumabas ang mga ulat tungkol sa appointment ni Cimatu bilang bagong DENR chief kahapon, nagbarikada ang Greenpeace sa tarangkahan ng DENR central office sa Quezon City at idineklarang “not open for business” ang ahensiya dahil sa kawalan ng secretary.
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“What will happen to the reforms started by Gina Lopez? These should be continued and expanded,” sabi ni Cinches.
Nagpahayag din ng pagkadismaya ang Green Thumb Coalition sa appointment kay Cimatu at binanggit ang human rights track record ng huli.
“If qualifications is an issue, (there is) a lot of doubt on Cimatu’s credentials,” sabi ng grupo.
Kumontra rin ang Pamalakaya sa appointment ni Cimatu at sinabing “military orientation is not to safeguard the environment and the people but to protect the destructive mining operations of giant mining companies in the countryside.” (Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz)
