Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon mourned the death of environmentalist Regina Paz “Gina” L. Lopez.
“Gina was a warrior of the environment. Indeed, I am saddened by her passing and I express condolence to the Lopez family,” Drilon said in a CNN Philippines interview.
Lopez died Monday morning, Aug. 19, at the age of 65. She succumbed to multiple organ failure after battling brain cancer.
“One of my greatest pride is being able to revive the Iloilo River and there I worked closely with Gina Lopez,” Drilon said
“We shared good practices and I was convinced that she was good for the environment, that’s why I supported her fully when she was before the Committee on Appointment. Unfortunately, she left us. It is a void that is difficult to fill,” the senator further said.
Lopez was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
But she was rejected by the Commission on Appointments in March 2017 after 11 months in office.
Drilon said he would remember Lopez as passionate. “Indeed, she would not let anyone stand in the way in her passion to bring back the environment to where it should be.”
Lopez is the daughter of ABS-CBN Chairman Emeritus Eugenio Lopez Jr. and Conchita La’o.
The long-time chairperson of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation established Bantay Bata 163 and Bantay Kalikasan.IMT
