Duterte likely to sign EO to implement FOI on Friday—Palace exec

“Hammering out the details of President Rody Duterte’s FOI EO on a holiday. Change is here! Be a #PartnerForChange,” said Communications Secretary Martin Andanar in his Twitter post. 

The draft of President Rodrigo Duterte’s executive order (EO) to implement the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill will be ready by Thursday night and hopefully will be signed on Friday, a Palace executive said Wednesday.

READ: Duterte ready to launch FOI law; vows to stop media killings

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Wednesday met with advocates of the FOI bill.

“It was part of the consultation of FOI EO. We should finish it [tomorrow] night,” Andanar said.

“By tomorrow night, it should be good,” he added.

Andanar said he hopes the EO on FOI would be signed Friday by Duterte.

READ: Duterte to issue FOI executive order soon

“By the Grace of God it will be signed Friday,” he said.

Andanar said he met with Malou Mangahas of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), lawyers Nepoo Malaluan, Ryan Acosta, Kris Ablan and Mara Querol. RAM