Senator Pacquiao’s touching message to Gina Lopez: “I truly admire your passion and love for the environment”

Commission on Appointments chairman and senator Manny Pacquiao expressed his admiration to former environment secretary Gina Lopez after she was rejected by the majority of the CA.

In his speech, he said that the deliberation of the appointment of Lopez was one of the longest, dramatic and most watched by all the Filipinos.

He also believes that Gina’s love and passion for the environment is amazing and he said the fight of Lopez is not yet over.

Despite of being the chairman of the CA, senator Pacquiao didn’t controlled the decision of the other members of the commission, but he respected the decision of the majority even he was saddened by the fate of the environmentalist.

This is the full speech of senator Pacquiao:

Senator Manny Pacquiao’s speech on the ad-interim appointment of Gina Lopez as DENR Secretary: 

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 versus 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 mahirap ang katayuan nating lahat sa pagdedisisyon ng issue sa appointment ni Madam Gina Lopez. Lahat ay nailatag, lahat ay nasagot. Pinagbigyan natin ng kanya-kanyang oras ang lahat ng stakeholders upang marinig ang kanilang 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, wala pa tayo noon sa politics at gobyerno. At dama ko ang iyong malasakit sa kalikasan. 

Then President Duterte appointed you as DENR Secretary and with your pronouncement na paulit-ulit na ikaw ay ZERO PERCENT corruption tolerance, I told myself, you would really make a difference. 

But today, the Commission has voted and has met the required 13 votes. With sadness in my heart, this Committee, through this Plenary, is terminating its deliberation on Gina Lopez’ 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, with 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 LAO- LOPEZ , the woman with a gold mine of heart. 

Hindi ito ang iyong katapusan, ito ay simula pa lamang ng bagong kabanata ng laban ng isang matapang, tapat at may prinsipyong babae, si GINA LOPEZ.
I move for the body to adopt the said resolution. I so move, Mr. President.

On Wednesday, Commission on Appointments rejected Gina Lopez to become the secretary of environment.

Sources said that 16 members of the commission voted against her and only eight voted in favor of her.

source: Public Trending