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Philippines ousts environment minister over anti-mining campaign

Philippine Environment Secretary Regina Lopez gestures as she speaks during a press conference at the Senate in Manila on May 3, 2017, after the legislative Commission on Appointment rejected her appointment as environment secretary. (AFP photo)

A campaign to ban open-pit mining and attempts to protect the environment have cost dearly for Philippine Environment Secretary Regina Lopez as lawmakers have voted for her removal under increasing pressure from mining lobby groups.

Lawmakers on the Commission on Appointments, a body of the Congress of the Philippines, voted 16-8 in favor of the removal of Lopez on Wednesday.

The 63-year-old is known for her fierce crackdown on mining in the Philippines, the world's top nickel ore supplier. She had ordered the closure of more than half of operating mines in the country while open-pit mining was banned in the final days of her time in office.

A mining lobby group that had sought the dismissal of Lopez said it would seek a reversal of her anti-mining measures. The Chamber of Mines said it would do its best to persuade a new minister to undo Lopez’s moves in the mining sector.

Nickel futures on the London Metal Exchange experienced a slump of more than two percent as projections said some mines would reopen after the dismissal of Lopez.

The office of President Rodrigo Duterte, who had supported Lopez and her campaign against mining, said it would respect the lawmakers’ decision. Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said Lopez could take another role in the administration.

Philippine Environment Secretary Regina Lopez gestures as she sings, "I believe I can fly", during a press conference at the Senate in Manila on May 3, 2017, after the legislative Commission on Appointment rejected her appointment as environment secretary. (AFP photo)

Lopez has a rich record in activism and dedication to the poor in the Philippines. She had characterized her anti-mining campaign as a fight against greedy miners who were destroying the nature and were threatening public health.

Activists have criticized the move to oust Lopez, saying the vote in the Congress showed how powerful the industries were “holding the lawmakers by their necks.”


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