LP sees passage of FOI, Anti-Dynasty bills before Aquino term ends
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—There is a high chance that before the term of President Benigno Aquino III ends in 2016, the Freedom of Information (FOI) and the Anti-Dynasty bills will be signed into law now that the Liberal Party (LP) has declared its support for the two measures.
LP’s President-on-leave and Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said the party has committed to passing these pieces of legislation.
“Sa hanay po ng partido na pinamumunuan ni Sec. Jun Abaya, ang amin pong pangulo, ang aming chairman na si Pangulong PNoy (Aquino), masasabi ko po na committed ang Liberal Party sa pagpasa ng Anti-Dynasty Law at saka ng FOI Law,” Roxas said during the dialogue of Koalisyon ng Mamamayan Para sa Reporma (KOMPRe) with Cabinet secretaries at the Ateneo de Manila University on Monday.
He said the endorsement coming from the allies of Aquino “came from the President himself as the chairman of our party.”
Aquino, however, has not openly declared his support for the bills.
The Anti-Political Dynasty law, which is currently under scrutiny at the House of Representatives, limits two family members in elective posts.
Meanwhile, the People’s Freedom of Information Act of 2013, which was recently passed in the Senate, seeks to make transparency a law by allowing public access to government records.
“Marami ang kontra dito pero kung determinado tayo na ayusin ang ating gobyerno, kailangan din itong panukalang batas na ito para maging balanse ang ating demokrasya at accountability,” he added.
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