MANILA, Philippines – Environment Secretary Gina Lopez has questioned the motive of a group that filed criminal and administrative complaints against her before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with her alleged inaction over the supposed anomalous purchase of air quality monitoring equipment.
In a statement sent to reporters on Tuesday, Lopez said she suspects a top official of the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) had a hand “in a campaign to find fault” against her and her department.
The UFCC filed the complaint against her and three other officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“Why these unfounded allegations are brought to fore when I decide to break relationship with Dr. Mike Aragon because of unkept promises? And if so, what is his real agenda here?” Lopez said.
Aragon is the vice president of UFCC.
“One should question what Dr. Aragon’s motives are and who is funding this campaign to find fault where there is none,” Lopez said.