Greenpeace activists dispersed from DENR blockade

After an eight-hour standoff, environmental activists from Greenpeace Philippines were dispersed from the gates of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Monday afternoon, May 8.

Several protesters, including Greenpeace Philippines' country director Amalie Obusan and executive director Yeb Saño, chained themselves to the gate of the agency's headquarters in Quezon City early Monday morning.

The move followed in the wake of the Commission on Appointment's (CA's) rejection last week of controversial firebrand Gina Lopez to helm the DENR.

President Rodrigo Duterte expressed dismay at the CA's decision over his appointee, saying that lobby money helped sway the Commission.

"Sayang si Gina. I really like her passion. But you know how it is. This is democracy. And lobby money talks," he said in a speech in Davao City last Thursday.

By 2pm, police arrived on the scene, took down the chains, and dispersed the protesters.

Standoff at the DENR https://t.co/xDElLenYmr

— GreenpeacePH (@gpph) May 8, 2017

Greenpeace activists remain unyielding while they are being dispersed. #defendDENR https://t.co/ZAo8nLFmwE

— GreenpeacePH (@gpph) May 8, 2017

Greenpeace Philippines said in its Twitter account that a second set of protesters was also dispersed from the scene. — GMA News