EMMANUEL "MANNY" D. PACQUIAO

Good afternoon distinguished Members of the Commission on Appointments, ladies and gentlemen:

The deliberation of  the  ad interim  appointment of  Ms.  Gina  Lopez  as Secretary of the DENR was perhaps the longest, dramatic and most watched by all Filipinos from all walks of life, both rich and the poor.

To my mind, this is not only Gina's fight for the environment but a fight between Filipinos vs  Filipinos who both need the environment,  one group to use it, and the other to preserve it.

Gina's uphill climb to reach  her goal as DENR Secretary was a tall call decision that perhaps the wisdom of Solomon must be sought.

As Chairman of this Committee, I have to hear both sides. One of Gina's and the other of her oppositors.

At kayo po ang saksi na lubhang napakahirap ng katayuan nating lahat kung sa pagde-desisyon ng issue ng appointment ni Madam Gina Lopez Lahat ay nailatag at lahat ay nasagot. Pinagbigyan natin ng kanya-kanyang oras ang lahat ng stakeholders upang  marinig ang kanyang  panig.

To Gina, I truly admire your passion and love for the environment •• your dreams to make the brown fields turn into green again, the water to be clean, and clean fresh air to surround our land

I remember I was your partner in preserving the environment way back. wata  pa  tayo  sa pulitika.  wala pa  tayo  sa  gobyerno.  at  dama  ko  ang  'yong malasakit sa kalikasan

Then, President  Duterte appointed  you  as  DENR  Secretary  and with your pronouncement na paulrt-uflt na Ikaw ay zero percent corruption tolerance  I told myself, you would really make a difference.

But the Commission has voted today and has met the required 13 votes. With sadness in my heart. this Committee, through this Plenary, is terminating its deliberation on Gina Lopez's appointment not in the way I personally wanted to, but by the decision of the majority, which I am sorry, but we must all respect

To you Gina Lopez, my supposed DENR Secretary, I salute you. Take this turmoil in your life today as a challenge to strive for more.  The DENR post, a great caliber as you are, is not the end of your career but only the beginning.  As one Chinese proverb said, "one step backward, two steps forward."

I believe  in  my  heart  that  no  matter  how  several big  people  may  be against  Gina,  she  will  always  stand  on  what  she  believes  is  morally  and environmentally  right  and  righteous, she  remains  unperturbed,  she  remains Regina Paz La'O Lopez. the woman with a gold mine of heart.

Hindi ito ang katapusan, ito ay simula pa lamang ng bagong kabanata  ng laban  ng  isang  matapang.  tapat  at may  prinsipyong  babae,  at  yan  ay  si Gina Lopez

Mr  President. I move that  the body adopts this report. 

I so move, Mr. President.