House can expect no Senate interference on FOI bill deliberations

Sen. Gregorio Honasan INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) is part of the 15th Congress’ priorities in its last nine session days before legislators adjourn for the midterm polls, but Senator Gregorio Honasan said that the Senate will not interfere with the House of Representatives’ deliberations on the proposed measure.

In a press conference Monday, Honasan said that measures on FOI, amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the Dangerous Drugs Act, land use policy, firearms regulation, random testing for driving under the influence, and wiretapping of suspected drug syndicate heads and financiers were placed in their list of priorities during the meeting between the leadership of the House and the Senate during the weekend.

“We have our hands full,” he said, pointing out that the legislative agenda was tentative and still had to be fine-tuned.

Asked whether the Senate urged the House to pass its version of the FOI measure, Honasan said “we will not deal with their dynamics pero sa Senado, handa na kami (but in the Senate we’re ready).”

The Senate “cannot pass alone, by itself (but) we cannot, due to inter-chamber respect and courtesy, comment about the dynamics in the House,” said the senator.