Malacanang’s drafting own version is a monkey wrench to derail passage of FOI Bill

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 1, 2011—Instead of drafting its own version of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, its proponents urged Malacañang Tuesday to adopt the draft consolidation of all pending FOI bills as a reference point.
            The Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition expressed fear that Malacañang’s move of drafting its own version of the FOI bill is like throwing a monkey wrench into the long-overdue legislation of the FOI law.
            “We fear, however, that Malacañang’s approach of drafting its own Freedom of Information (FOI) bill could throw a monkey wrench into the long-overdue legislation of the FOI law. For one, it sends a signal to Congress 
to slow down on the legislative process and await Malacañang’s version. For another, Malacañang’s lack of decisive support for FOI is interpreted by many as resistance in fact to the measure. This can only embolden opponents of the bill in Congress. Also, the Malacañang approach could result in a bill so far in structure and substance from the pending versions in Congress that it reopens debates and disagreements and trigger a deadlock,” the coalition said in a statement signed by more than 150 FOI advocates led by Bishop Broderick Pabillo, auxillary Bishop of Manila and national director of the CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action Justice & Peace (NASSA-JP); and Fr. Albert E. Alejo, SJ and Dr. Ronnie V. Amorado of the Ehem! Anticorruption Movement.
                Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda has recently announced the creation of an inter-agency team tasked with “the drafting of the Freedom of Information Bill as far as the executive branch is concerned.”
                The coalition labeled such move as “unfortunate.”
                Instead of drafting its own FOI bill, “a more straightforward and good-faith approach on the part of Malacañang is for the inter-agency team to adopt Rep. (Lorenzo “Erin”) Tañada’s proposed consolidation as its reference point. It can then identify specifically what changes it still proposes to make, and subject these proposals to dialogue.”
                Tañada is chairperson of the Technical Working Group (TWG) that has consolidated all the versions of the FOI bill pending in Congress. The TWG has recently circulated a draft consolidation of the bills which proposes further refinements that address the concerns of Malacañang and some government agencies. 
                The group, however, “recognize(d) Malacañang’s prerogative to closely examine the proposed Freedom of Information Act. Indeed, while the bill covers all branches and levels of government, the executive department will be most concerned in the implementation of an FOI law given that it is the biggest generator and custodian of information.”
                Tañada, however, assuaged Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition’s fears.
                “I don’t think so,” he said in a text message in reaction to the group’s statement.
                “As a matter of fact, Malacañang is holding dialogues with the advocates. Malacañang would also consult with the authors of both the Senate and House. At least, Malacañang would use as a starting point the FOI Bill that was approved by the Bicameral Conference Committee,” he added.
                The FOI bill was passed by the Senate during the 14th Congress but failed ratification in the House of Representatives.  (Bong D. Fabe)