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Lopez wants to serve as Duterte 'aide,' bucks running in polls

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/05/04/050417_lopez.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">President Rodrigo Duterte shares a light moment with Environment Secretary Gina Lopez during the 9th Cabinet Meeting in Malacañan Palace on December 5, 2016. <cite>King Rodriguez, Malacanang Photo</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Outgoing Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said Thursday she was willing to serve as President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s assistant, but discounted running for public office.</p><p>Lopez, who riled the mining industry with her crackdown on alleged destructive practices, was rejected by the Commission on Appointments on Wednesday.</p><p>In interviews with DZMM and ANC, Lopez reiterated that only Duterte had the guts to fight business interests in the environment department.</p><p>&quot;Iyan ang gusto ko! Even as usec, alalay. You can&#x27;t protect our natural resources if you don&#x27;t have some kind of tapang e and integridad na hindi ka pwedeng mabili,&quot; she said.</p><p>(That&#x27;s what I want, to serve even as a usec, an aide. You can&#x27;t protect our natural resources if you don&#x27;t have some kind of courage and integrity that will not allow you to be bought.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/03/17/lopez-only-duterte-can-fight-business-interest-in-denr">Lopez: Only Duterte can fight business interest in DENR</a></li></ul><p>Lopez had ordered 28 mines closed or suspended, threatened to cancel 75 contracts and banned new open pit mines during her 10 months in office.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1454402" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>Asked if she was willing to run for Senator or any public office, Lopez said: &quot;I don&#x27;t think so.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Lawyering and laws is not my cup of tea. I’ll get totally bored,&quot; she said.</p><p>Lopez however acknowledged the public&#x27;s support for her, especially on social media.</p><p>&quot;I love the Filipino. What this whole foray has brought me into? Feeling. I feel energy. Feeling the pulse of the Filipino, the heart. It’s unbelievable,&quot; she said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_2" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1454401" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>Lopez recalled a conversation she had with Duterte during the campaign, where she found out for herself, how the then candidate was &quot;very fearless and very strong.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I was showing him pictures and we saw how people were suffering, I don&#x27;t think he was serious ha,&quot; she said.</p><p>Duterte then joked, according to Lopez, &quot;Gusto mo papatayain ko sila? I looked at him I said sir mahal na mahal kita.&quot;</p><p>(Do you want me to kill them? I looked at him and said, Sir, I really love you.&quot;</p><p>&quot;It was just the fervor of, it was indicative of his love for people and his temperament to say, if this happens,&quot; she said.</p><p>Lopez said &quot;business interest&quot; led lawmakers to reject her appointment, noting that fiercest critics of her appointment were backed by mining firms during the last May elections.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s business, it&#x27;s clearly business. Even sa questioning sa hearing,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>Following lawmakers' rejection of her appointment, outgoing Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Thursday said she wants to continue her crusade of protecting the environment -- even in a lower government post.</p>

Following lawmakers' rejection of her appointment, outgoing Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Thursday said she wants to continue her crusade of protecting the environment -- even in a lower government post.