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Philippine Congress rejects appointee who ordered mines shut

Associated Press
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Acting Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez gestures during a news conference following the rejection of her appointment as a cabinet member by the Commission on Appointments based on the recommendation of its committee on environment and natural resources Wednesday, May 3, 2017, in Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines. Lopez, whose family owns the country's largest television network, was the second cabinet member to be rejected by a majority of the members of the commission under President Rodrigo Duterte. Lopez ordered the closure and suspension of dozens of mines she says harm the environment and residents.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

Acting Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez gestures during a news conference following the rejection of her appointment as a cabinet member by the Commission on Appointments based on the recommendation of its committee on environment and natural resources, headed by Sen. Manny Pacquiao Wednesday, May 3, 2017, in Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines. Lopez, whose family owns the country's largest television network, was the second cabinet member to be rejected by a majority of the members of the commission under President Rodrigo Duterte. Lopez ordered the closure and suspension of dozens of mines she says harm the environment and residents.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

Acting Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez sings during a news conference following the rejection of her appointment as a cabinet member by the Commission on Appointments based on the recommendation of its committee on environment and natural resources, headed by Sen. Manny Pacquiao Wednesday, May 3, 2017, in Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines. Lopez, whose family owns the country's largest television network, was the second cabinet member to be rejected by a majority of the members of the commission under President Rodrigo Duterte. Lopez ordered the closure and suspension of dozens of mines she says harm the environment and residents.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

The Philippine Congress has rejected the appointment of the country's acting environment chief, who ordered the closure and suspension of dozens of mines she says harm the environment and residents.

The powerful Commission on Appoints disapproved the appointment of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Wednesday based on the recommendation of its committee on environment and natural resources, headed by Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

Lopez has locked horns with the mining industry and other members of President Rodrigo Duterte's Cabinet.

She ordered the closure of 23 mines, suspension of five others and the cancellation of 75 mining contracts after an audit showed they were harming the environment, damaging watersheds and causing siltation in coastal waters and farms.