Poe: Duterte should have also used Sona to promote FOI bill
WHILE she supports many of President Duterte’s promises during his first State of the Nation Address (Sona), Senator Grace Poe said the President should have also used the occasion to push for the passage of the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.
Poe noted that many of Duterte’s program were aligned with her plans for the country, including the passage of the FOI measure.
“Kung naalala ninyo, tumakbo rin naman ako, lahat nung mga sinabi niya ay naging pangarap ko rin, na mabigyan ng oportunidad ang ating mga kababayan,” she said in an interview. The senator ran but lost to Duterte during the last May presidential election.
“Pero, para sa akin, sana nabanggit din niya na hinikayat ang Kongreso na ipasa na ninyo ang Freedom of Information dito. Kasi napirmahan ko na eh. Kayo naman.”
“Siguro ayaw din munang pilitin ng Pangulo yung mga ibang kongresista pero importante na may sinasabi ang Pangulo kasi nakita natin noong huling administrasyon, pag walang utos sa taas, medyo mabagal ang usad ng batas,” Poe added.
Duterte had already signed an executive order implementing the FOI bill but it only covers the offices under the executive department.
Article continues after this advertisementPoe, who spearheaded the passage of the law in the Senate as chair of the committee on public information during the last Congress, is again pushing for its passage during the 17th Congress.
Article continues after this advertisement“Actually, kapag Executive Order lang po, ibig sabihin, kapag nagpalit ang isip ng Pangulo ay pwedeng tanggalin ito. Ang batas, kahit na sino pa ang nakaupo diyan, ay matagal iyang mabuwag,” she said.
“Pangalawa, ang executive order ng pangulo ay covered lang po ang executive branch, ibig sabihin ang gabinete niya at mga opisina nito. Hindi po covered ang Senado, Kongreso, o ang Judiciary.”
“ Alam po ninyo ay marami ding kurakot sa mga branches na ito, importante ay mabantayan din kaya para sa atin dapat talaga isang ganap na batas para pag nagkamali ka hindi lamang mababa ang parusa kundi mabigat-bigat rin para walang lulusot,” she further said.
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