Bishop asks Aquino: Why aren’t you pushing for freedom of information bill?

If President Benigno Aquino III is serious in fighting corruption and upholding transparency in the government, as he declared in speeches during his visit to the United States, he should push for the passage of the freedom of information bill.

Thus stated Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chair of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace, in an interview Thursday with reporters.

Pabillo reiterated his call for the passage of the freedom of information bill, saying that irregularities such as the unliquidated cash advances of the Office of the President during the term of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could have been prevented by it.

“When we have freedom of information, we will know that [President Aquino is really serious] in combating corruption,” he said.

P1B in cash advances

Pabillo aired his call just as the President ended his visit to the United States, where he attended the launch of the Open Governance Partnership (OGP) initiative in New York amid disclosures at home that the Arroyo administration had yet to account for almost P1 billion in cash advances for official trips abroad.

“That’s our problem when we don’t have transparency. If there’s no transparency, those things are kept hidden. We’d just know when the [funds] have already been spent,” Pabillo said.

The OGP is committed to strengthen transparency, citizen participation and accountability, and share new technologies and innovation.

To join the initiative, governments must commit to fiscal transparency through the timely publication of budget documents and an open budget system, a law on access to information, rules for public disclosure of income and assets of elected and senior officials, and citizen participation and engagement in policy-making and protection of civil liberties.

Not just Aquino’s fight

Pabillo challenged Mr. Aquino to prove that his administration was different from his predecessor’s by certifying the freedom of information bill as urgent so that Congress could speed up its passage.

“Does the President have the only right to access [documents held by the state]? All citizens should have such a right. The fight against corruption is not just [his] fight. It’s also the citizens’ fight. But the citizens can’t do it without tools. A freedom of information law is their tool,” the bishop said.

He also said the unliquidated cash advances should be investigated “so that the people will know the truth,” and those involved should be held accountable.