CA panel OKs DENR chief Loyzaga's appointment

A Commission on Appointments (CA) committee on Tuesday approved and endorsed the ad interim appointment of Ma. Antonia Yulo Loyzaga as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

CA Chairperson and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri moved for the CA Committee on Environment and Natural Resources to approve the appointment of Loyzaga — a motion that was seconded by the CA panel chairperson, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, and Senator Risa Hontiveros.

During the committee hearing on her appointment, Loyzaga was asked about her positions on small-scale mining, open-pit mining, the issue on the Masungi Georeserve, and her inheritance of 34 entities.

It was SAGIP Rep. Rodante Marcoleta who raised the inheritance of Loyzaga based on the sworn disclosure of business, financial personal and professional connections and interest submitted to the committee.

"You disclosed 34 entities in your submitted sworn disclosure of business, financial personal and professional connections and interests," he said.

"Papaano po ba ito? Kasi kailangan po 'ata ng mga divestments para sa ganon malinis po, hindi tayo mapag-isipan ng kung anu-ano sapagkat napaka-importante po kasi ng posisyon na itinalaga po sa inyo ng ating pangulo. Puwede niyo po ba sabihin sa amin para naman mapanatag si Senator [Cynthia] Villar," Marcoleta said in jest.

Villar cut Marcoleta quickly and informed him that one cannot divest from something that was inherited.

"Inheritance 'yan. You cannot divest inheritance," Villar said.

But Marcoleta insisted that Loyzaga's links in these 34 entities should be raised.

"Wala po kasing nakalagay na inheritance...I'm talking about 34 entities kasi kung ito ay apat lang siguro... eh 34 ito," he said.

Zubiri then interrupted the exchange and pointed out that Loyzaga is from a family that is considered as one of the richest clans in the 1950s and 1960s.

"They are a very wealthy family that's why I know there will be no corruption, kasi she will never accept a single centavo out of corruption cause their family is a family of integrity..She comes from a very wealthy family and these are all... none of them of which are ill-gotten. Mana 'yan from mga ninuno niya," Zubiri said.

Legarda also backed Zubiri's position and vouched for Loyzaga's integrity.

She disclosed that Loyzaga was even hesitant to accept the post in the DENR because she had to divest from her family businesses. —KBK, GMA News