MANILA - Finance Secretary Carlos "Sonny" Dominguez on Thursday said he currently has no investments or interests in any mining company.

He said he was only involved in mining twice: from 1999 to 2003 when he was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation (PASAR), a copper smelting company, and in 2006 when he was invited to rehabilitate Rapu-Rapu in Albay.

"Since then, I had nothing to do with mining. I have no mining interests. I personally have no investments in mines, I have no shares of stocks in mines," Dominguez said in an ambush interview with reporters at the sidelines of a Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) meeting.

When asked if he supports mining companies, he said, "I support following the law. There is a mining law, I support following that law."

Dominguez convened the MICC with Department and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez over the latter's decision to close 23 mines.

Lopez on Thursday refuted reports that the implementation of her decision was suspended by the Cabinet, following a meeting on Wednesday.

"That’s not what he said," Lopez said, referring to Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez.

A statement from the finance department said the Cabinet "expressed their full support behind President Duterte’s decision to observe due process before implementing a directive."

According to Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, who also attended the MICC meeting, they are now drafting a resolution and assured reporters that they will follow due process.

Lopez has been accused of not following due process when she decided to order the closure of the mines.

Yesterday, she defended her decision saying, “At the end of the day, I make the decision based on truth, justice and the common good.”