MANILA- Former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Saturday tagged Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Director Mario Louie Jacinto as "the worst,” citing challenges in working with the official during her time at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In an interview on DZMM, Lopez said Jacinto was hard to work with as the latter allegedly refused to heed her instructions and attend meetings.

“Si Louie Jacinto is the worst MGB head. I complained that to the president eh. He does not come to the meetings. I cancelled mines and he gave them presidential awards and I said ‘ano ba yan?’ ano,” she said.

ABS-CBN News tried to reach Jacinto’s office for comment but he was unavailable as of posting time.

President Rodrigo Duterte named Jacinto director of the MGB in July last year, replacing Leo Jasareno.

“He’s not good at all and he just doesn’t come to the meetings, deadma. [He] doesn’t answer phone calls, texts and he’s still there 'no. I don’t think he will be a good MGB head,” Lopez said, expressing fears that Jacinto may replace her.

“And the Chamber of Mines want him to be DENR secretary, yan ang choice ng Chamber of Mines so parang nakakatakot,” she said.

Lawmakers last Wednesday rejected the appointment of Lopez, who cracked down on alleged unsafe mining practices during her 10 months in office.

Lopez cited the lack of coordination among officials as one of the problems she saw at the DENR.

“They’re too iba-iba eh,” she said.

Lopez, who brought her own staff to the department, however noted that there were “good” officials within the DENR.

“There’s some very good ha. And the existing RDs (regional directors) now, I really like them. They’re good, they’re honest, they’re direct,” she said.