Nagpahayag ng pag-asa kahapon ang mga senador na magiging kasing passionate ni Gina Lopez sa pagmamalasakit at pakikipaglaban para sa kalikasan ang pumalit ditong si bagong Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu.
Para kay Senator JV Ejercito, may “big shoes to fill in” si Cimatu simula nang maging kontrobersiyal ang pagbasura kamakailan ng Commission on Appointments (CA) sa ad interim appointment ni Lopez.
“I’m wishing newly appointed DENR Chief Roy Cimatu all the best in his new challenging role,” sabi ni Ejercito. “He’s got big shoes to fill after Gina Lopez who has opened the eyes of the Filipino people on the dangers of mining abuse.
Sinabi pa ng senador na si Cimatu sana “would not be intimidated by the mining giants” sa bansa.
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Umaasa rin si Sen. Bam Aquino na magiging kasing pursigido ni Lopez si Cimatu sa pakikipaglaban para sa kalikasan, dahil ang katangiang ito ang nagpakilala sa dating kalihim sa publiko.
“I hope that Gen. Cimatu would be as passionate as Secretary Lopez. Sana ipaglaban niya ‘yung kalikasan nang kasing sigla at ‘sing lakas ni Lopez,” sinabi ni Aquino sa mga mamamahayag.
‘COMPROMISED CHOICE’
Gayunman, hindi kumbinsido si Fr. Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary ng Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-NASSA) na karapat-dapat si Cimatu nakahalili ni Lopez.
Aniya, kumpara kay Lopez ay maituturing na baguhan pa lang ang dating chief of staff ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“He might have management capacity given his military career but he has no track record in terms of his stand on social justice, environmental protection, IP rights, and pro-poor development,” ani Gariguez. “We don’t need a DENR secretary who is a compromised choice to appease the mining industry.”
Dahil dito, sinabi ni Gariguez na nagsumite ang NASSA ng liham sa Malacañang nitong Lunes upang igiit ang reappointment ni Lopez sa DENR. (Hannah L. Torregoza at Leslie Ann G. Aquino)
