MANILA, Philippines?The ill-fated Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill may have found a new lease on life amid criticisms on how broadcast media covered the Aug. 23 hostage crisis that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead.

The Senate committee on public information and mass media is looking to jumpstart efforts to finally have the bill passed by examining media?s behavior during the incident and seeking concrete actions to rectify errors.

Sen. Gregorio Honasan, committee chairman, invited top executives of ABS-CBN, GMA-7, and TV5 to its inquiry on Tuesday, which would ultimately tackle the FOI measure.

Also set to appear are TV5 news anchor Erwin Tulfo and RMN?s Michael Rogas, who interviewed the hostage-taker, dismissed Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza, while negotiation was bogging down.

?This is preparatory to a series of hearings for a more important measure, which is the Freedom of Information Bill,? he said in the weekly ?Kapihan sa Senado? media forum.

?We will have a chance to look into our own areas of responsibility more objectively and more closely because the results of these lapses are obvious?eight people, (plus) the hostage-taker, died.?

Malacañang agreement

Honasan also belittled the supposed agreement Malacañang had arrived at with members of the broadcast media industry in the wake of the crisis. The agreement covered issues of protocol, meaning at what point coverage should be limited to allow authorities to do their job unhampered.

?(It?s) nothing,? he said. ?The meeting between Malacañang and the media will not be binding unless it carries with it the force of law, which is the responsibility of Congress.?

The FOI measure came close to being enacted in the 14th Congress if not for the House of Representatives, which refused to ratify the bicameral conference committee report on the bill. To think that the measure had originated from the same chamber.

Last July, Sen. Bong Revilla re-filed the bill, noting that, ?giving the right information earns the public trust, which will give birth to national unity.? It has been a decade since the measure was first proposed.

?By guaranteeing citizen?s access to official records, the Filipinos will actively participate in the decision-making and legitimizing process of governance,? he had said in statement.

?Never been spoiled?

Honasan apparently made an effort not to antagonize media over the hostage crisis, denying criticisms that journalists were generally ?spoiled.? He said: ?No, media has never been spoiled.?

?Now is the time for self-examination, which should lead to self-regulation,? he said. ?We?re very careful with media because media should regulate itself.?

Honasan also clarified that TV networks were not in danger of losing their respective franchises as a result of their participation in the hostage situation. He said the franchise did not cover cases such as hostage coverage.

?Even if you pursue this and hold those who were there accountable, what would you charge them?? he said.