‘FOI bill is dead,’ says Maceda

former Senator Ernesto Maceda

MANILA, Philippines — The Freedom of Information Bill was as good as dead in the 15th Congress, as it lacks the President’s certification and only had six session days left to be passed, former Senator Ernesto Maceda said on Monday.

“We have to accept the reality as indicated by some congressmen that Malacañang is not really pushing for the FOI Bill. With only six session days left… I am resigned to the fact that for this Congress the FOI bill is dead,” he told reporters during a press conference.

He said that the measure may have “better chances with new faces and new names” in the next Congress.

And although he did not share Maceda’s opinion on the status of the bill, Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco said that it was important to read the “body language” of the House of Representatives.

He noted the instances when the majority had earlier been able to ensure quorum despite objections on a certain bill being discussed and “the question now is, why is there no quorum? You have to read the body language. It indicates that as of today, it’s not a priority.”

“Kapag gusto magkaquorum, meron,” Tiangco said, pointing out how it was the case with their deliberations on the Reproductive Health Bill which is now a law. “As with the RH, kahit walang roll call it was tackled. With the FOI it was not tackled in all three session days last week.”

He said that there was still hope that the FOI Bill would be passed but said the bill’s fate seemed bleak if the bill does not push through second reading by Monday next week.

The fact that the bill’s principal author Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tanada III had to ask for the measure’s status through parliamentary inquiry was also proof that it was struggling in the House, said Tiangco.

“The problem is that we have a very unique situation. The Deputy Speaker even had to make parliamentary inquiry on the status of the FOI,” he said, pointing out that as part of the House leadership, Tanada should have been able to request that his bill be tackled.

Instead, Tanada was forced to ask about the bill through a parliamentary inquiry and “have it put on record to push it, so the leadership will be forced to commit,” said Tiangco.

FOI Bill authors in the House are planning to meet with President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday to urge that he certify the measure as urgent.