DENR Secretary Gina Lopez Wants To Meet With CPP/NPA Leader In Negros

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez wants to meet with the leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Negros.

Secretary Lopez is asking Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, who is a consultant of the CPP-NPA-National Democratic Front peace panel, to facilitate the meeting with Frank Fernandez, the Negros leader of the group.

The DENR Chief has reiterated her pronouncements to work with the armed wing of the CPP to protect the environment, adding if social justice on the ground would be addressed there won’t be any fighting.

“Maraming pera ang gobyerno, gamitin natin sa mabuting paraan” (the government has plenty of money, let's use it wisely), she explained Tuesday afternoon, April 25, during her visit in Dumaguete City.

Ocampo joined Lopez on her visits to Basay and Sipalay in southern Negros to inspect the state of two mining sites there.

Ocampo told reporters members of the Commission on Appointments should forget about their personal and economic interests and consider the welfare of the country.

He said Lopez had the background and experience in addressing poverty through care of the environment, especially on the impact of mining.

Ocampo further said the NPAs have been guardians of our natural resources but the intrusion of mining have driven them out from their respective areas.

Secretary Lopez said that when the poor suffers the most with the destruction of the environment.

Source: Philippine News Agency