Manila: The Influential Commission on Appointments — it is composed of lawmakers from the upper and lower houses of Congress — finally rejected the appointment of environment secretary Gina Lopez, who closed down 23 mining firms and suspended five others for non compliance with the country’s mining law, leaving only 13 of the country’s 41 mining firms to operate since last year.

Thirteen CA members voted against Lopez, considered a majority, said Senator Manny Pacquiao, leader of CA’s hearings.

“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,” Pacquiao said, but did not say how many voted against her or who abstained from voting.

“To Gina, I truly admire your passion and love for the environment, your dreams to make the brown fields turned into green, the water to be clean and clean fresh air to surround our land,” Pacquiao added.

“I feel your passion for nature,” Pacquiao said, adding, “I believe in my heart that no matter how several big people may be against Gina, she will always stand by what she believes is morally and environmentally right and righteous.”

On Tuesday, on the eve of the announcement of the CA, she said that constitutional right to a clean environment should be her department’s priority more than business profit.

Anti-mining firms took the cudgels for Lopez and vowed to be more vigilant in watching over the implementation of her closure orders that were made earlier.

Mining groups and their advocates mounted a strong campaign against Lopez since March this year. Pro-mining members of the CA said that Gina is advocating amendment of the mining law.

Senators Francis Pangilinan, Loren Legarda, Tito Sotto and JV Ejercito told reporters they voted for Lopez’s confirmation.

When she made a list of five more mining firms to be suspended in early February, she complained that many of the country’s mining firms were built on watersheds, adding her aim is to protect the country’s water resources.

She also ordered that mining firms set aside P2 million (Dh166,666) funds per hectare of land that is disturbed by mining projects, on top of funds already set aside to repair environmental damage. This will help protect farms of farmers, she said.

Members of the CA questioned her right to make this demand, including her “strict demand” for mining companies to comply with environment protection laws.

Last week, she banned future open-pit mining projects.

An anti-mining activist, Lopez also belongs to a rich family that owns ABS CBN, a media network.

The Philippines is the world’s top nickel ore exporter.