InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- The Freedom on Information (FOI) bill again failed to make the cut for the second Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) meeting to be led by President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, however, disagreed with the statement of Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño that this Ledac meeting is Aquino’s last chance to redeem himself by prioritizing the FOI bill and ensuring its passage.
Lacierda said the President wants more time to study and flesh out the bill.
“This is not the last chance we’ve got to prioritize the bill. We still have four years and nine months to go. There will be several Ledac meetings,” the Palace official said.
“We have certain concerns -- valid concerns raised by the President himself. But it is not dead in the water. We agree with the FOI in principle but there are certain concerns that have to be addressed. We agree in principle that the FOI bill must be passed,” Lacierda added.
The Palace version of the FOI bill provides for the creation of an independent Information Commission, with its own budget and quasi-judicial functions such as the power to subpoena. The commission would be the “arbiter” between government and any parties who have questions regarding the bill’s enforcement.
At least 13 FOI bills were studied and reviewed -- including those enforced in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa -- for exemptions covering classified information and documents that would be prejudicial to national defense or security.
The FOI bill seeks to answer a Constitutional provision that guarantees the right of people to access to information and documents in the custody of government officials and agencies.
