Last Friday marks another history in Philippine Politics, not only that it was the last working day for our hard working lawmakers of the 14th congress, it was the day to remember, the day when the members of the House of Representative killed the Freedom of Information Bill.
I was angered while watching the drama unfolds in the lower chamber, as if taking a queue from somebody, Camiguin Representative Pedro Romualdo immediated objected to the ratification of the Freedom of Information Bill (House Bill 3732) citing lack of quorum. The Speaker then ordered the House Secretary General to check the attendance and there were only 128 congressmen present, 7 lawmaker short of the quorum of 135.
Amazingly, before opening of the session, there were enough lawmaker present to pass the bill. The house speaker was “forced” to adjourn the session due to lack of quorum and that signaled the death of the Freedom of Information bill in the lower house. The law that will give the citizens of this great nation free access to matters of public concern, such as official records and to documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, decisions, as well as government research data used as basis for policy development.
The Senate’s version (Senate Bill 3308) of the proposed law was passed almost 6 months ago in December 14, 2009.
It’s not long ago when then NEDA Director General Romulo Neri refused to disclose the details of his conversation with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the matters of the ZTE-NBN controversy invoking “executive privilege.” Evidently, this government don’t want the public to see the skeletons in their closet.
This could have been a landmark legislation, a legislation that the people has been clamoring for fourteen years, a law that would show the sincerity of this government of their transparency.
I hope that president-apparent Noynoy Aquino will certify this bill as priority legislation given that he supported the passing of the law when he was still a Senator.
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