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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Wednesday, May 10, 2017
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MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte backtracked and clarified his previous statement that “lobby money” was involved in the Commission on Appointments’ decision to reject Gina Lopez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Tuesday said that Duterte’s claim on lobby money did not mean financial exchange.
It was not a “pejorative accusation,” said Abella yesterday during a press conference in Malacañang.
“We need to correct that. The president said last night that when he said lobby, people automatically assumed there was an exchange of money, but he explained that lobby is a legal thing that you can actually exercise in order to persuade one’s particular position,” he added.
The chief executive, according to him, believed that there was “persuasion” and “legitimate pressure” in the appointment of officials.
“That was his statement. It is basically… I don’t know kung saan siya nanggagaling but I am sure he is coming from a position of certainty,” Abella said. “He expanded on the meaning of lobby. He did not expound on money. He did not say anything about favors.”
After her CA rejection, Lopez said that business interests influenced members of the powerful commission to vote against her confirmation.
Sixteen CA members voted “No” to confirm Lopez’s appointment, while only eight voted in favor of the former DENR chief./PN
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