06 February 2013

FOI: Mag-Ingat sa Hindi Tunay (Statement of the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition)





STATEMENT OF THE RIGHT TO KNOW, RIGHT NOW! COALITION
06 February 2013
                                         

FOI: Mag-Ingat sa Hindi Tunay
  
TODAY, we close our people's campaign for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill in the 15th Congress. We have, to the extent that our capacities and limited resources permitted, exhausted all avenues that we thought were open to us to get positive, decisive action from the leaders of the House of Representatives and from President Aquino no less.

Yet they turned a deaf ear to our summons for leadership. Instead they caved in to their fears of an informed and empowered people. They gave us the lie to their avowed claims of transparency and good governance.  

The campaign committed one big error -- we had thought, in all earnestness, that the passage of the FOI law in the 15th Congress would have the support of Aquino. Three years ago he had promised he would accord the bill top priority. Our sad lesson: Words are to candidates cheap, and Presidents lie, indeed.

Contrary to giving the FOI Bill priority, Aquino hobbled the campaign from the beginning with his variably petty and serious mutating concerns about the FOI Bill. Our reaction was to address these concerns and to engage his Study Group after it was belatedly created.

When finally he endorsed the work of the Study Group in January 2012, at the height of the Corona impeachment, we had thought the tide had changed. We were wrong again. Nothing would be heard from him since in support of the measure, except, ironically a left-field endorsement of the Right of Reply in a November 2012 speech. This no doubt affirmed and emboldened the obstructionist proponents of a patently unconstitutional Right of Reply rider to the FOI Bill at the House of Representatives.

Taking cue that the measure did not really enjoy Aquino's full support, the House assured the death of the FOI bill by deliberate inaction. Committee on Public Information Chairman Rep. Ben Evardone, who had jumped ship from the Lakas-Kampi party of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to join Aquino's Liberal Party, simply delayed and cancelled committee hearings on the bill on and on. When finally the committee members forced the vote to send the bill to plenary, two more Lakas-Kampi turncoats to LP holding the highest positions in the House -- Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II -- made sure the FOI bill will not get off the ground.

Unto the FOI Bill's dying days in the last nine session days of Congress, we appealed to President Aquino to certify the passage of the FOI bill as an urgent measure. His response, given through his spokespersons was curt -- he wants to see a "healthy debate" on the FOI bill in the House. 

It was an insult to say the least. It was as if the President was clueless about how the triumvirate of Evardone, Belmonte, and Gonzales had made sure that absolutely no debate would happen on the FOI Bill whether in committee or in plenary. And rather than taking the trio to task, the President, national chairman of the Liberal Party, even rewarded Evardone for his lackluster work, by installing the latter as a spokesperson of the administration's hodgepodge of an electoral coalition.

And so the FOI Bill dies again in the 15th Congress under Aquino, as it did under Arroyo. But a startling point of contrast must be made, too. The FOI Bill had advanced even much farther in Arroyo's time when it came just one step away from signing into law. In Aquino's time, it did not take off at all in the House.

Where does the FOI campaign go from here?

The people's movement for FOI will push on anywhere and everywhere, despite or in spite of Aquino and his allies. Rights, after all, are never served on a silver platter. Fight for our rights we must, and we will.

In the 16th Congress we commit to persevere even more. By the power of our own will and by the numbers of our people, we will heighten our demand to get our FOI Act.

We know this to be true: The FOI Bill did not pass in the 15th Congress because Aquino and the House of Representatives failed us. But the success story in our campaign for the FOI Bill's passage into law is writ large in the ever-growing movement for the passage of the FOI Bill that has united nearly all sectors of Philippine society. They include workers and businessmen, the youth and students, the media, the churches, the civil servants, professors and school officials, migrant workers and their families, and a whole range of civil society organizations across the nation.

They exclude, of course, Aquino, his allies, and politicians of all stripes who seem truly scared that their secrets and shenanigans will be exposed by an empowering transparency tool that an FOI Act will be.

Today we do not bury the FOI Billl. Instead we keep it alive and recommit ourselves to push it in the 16th Congress -- despite or in spite of Aquino and his allies. With greater vigor we will keep the FOI bill alive on the streets, across all media platforms, and wherever else local communities can set it in motion, through a more determined push for legislation, and also by practice.

Today we bury instead the legacy of ineptitude of the House of Representatives of the 15th Congress, and the falsity of Aquino's promise as a candidate that he will see to the immediate passage of the FOI Act. Today, we stop hoping and appealing for Aquino to push the FOI Bill in the 16th Congress. By all indications, he supports reform bills that also the donor community, investors, and credit ratings outfits favor, but on the FOI Bill, he equivocates ceaselessly.

We take this opportunity to thank all the sectors and citizens who championed and stood up for the passage of the FOI in the 14th and 15th Congresses, despite the odds. The Senate, as an institution, has delivered not once, but twice, and there is no reason to doubt that it will again deliver in the 16th Congress.

We make special mention of Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, who made good on his commitment to work for the FOI Bill's passage in the Senate in the 15th Congress as committee chairman, and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who did the same in the 14th Congress. We note that in both instances that the FOI Bill was passed by the Senate, it was headed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

At the House, while an unresponsive leadership and an indifferent majority killed the FOI bill a second time, a handful stood their ground -- Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada of Quezon, Rep. Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao, Representatives Walden Bello and Kaka Bag-ao of Akbayan Party List, and Representatives Sherwin Tugna and Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales of CIBAC Party List.

We also note that the 14th Congress' Committee on Public Information Chairman Benny Abante of Manila has kept alive his advocacy for the FOI bill, in his private capacity. We acknowledge the emerging supporters in the House, such as Rep. Emmeline Aglipay of Diwa Party List, and commit to work with them to expand the group of FOI champions in the 16th Congress.

In the Executive, we thank Justice Secretary Leila De Lima for being the one and only Aquino Cabinet member to publicly stand up for the passage of the FOI Bill in her speech before the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), a breath of fresh air amid the asphyxiating "it is up to Congress; we want a healthy debate" line of President Aquino and his spokespersons.

The people's movement for FOI lives on. We will never relent in our efforts to demand an open, honest, accountable, and transparent government that we all deserve.

In time, we will claim our victory. 


Signed:

[Signatories from the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI) are in blue.]

  • Nepomuceno Malaluan, Co-Director, Institute for Freedom of Information and Co-Convenor, Right to Know. Right Now! Coalition
  • Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, DD, Chairman, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines - National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (CBCP-NASSA)
  • Malou Mangahas, Executive Director, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
  • Florangel Rosario-Braid, President Emeritus & Senior Adviser, Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication
  • Annie Geron, General Secretary, Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK)
  • Josua Mata, Secretary General, Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)
  • Clarissa V. Militante, Coordinator, Focus on the Global South, Philippines Programme
  • Rowena Paraan, Secretary-General, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
  • Vincent Lazatin, Executive Director, Transparency and Accountability Network
  • Luis Teodoro, Deputy Director, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
  • Leonor M. Briones, Lead Covenor, Social Watch Philippines and Chairperson, KAAKBAY Party List
  • Yuen Abana, Campaign Coordinator, Partido ng Manggagawa
  • Jun Aguilar, Filipino Migrant Workers Group
  • Elso Cabangon, Filipino Migrant Workers Group
  • Ramon R. Tuazon, President, Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication
  • Madeline B. Quiamco, Dean, Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication
  • Alwyn Alburo, Vice Chairman, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
  • Eirene Jhone Aguila, FOI and New Politics Advocate
  • Jenina Joy Chavez, Southeast Asia Monitor for Action
  • Corazon Valdez Fabros, Lead Convenor, Stop the War Coalition Philippines
  • Ana Maria R. Nemenzo, National Coordinator, WomanHealth Philippines
  • Isagani R. Serrano, President, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement
  • Gerry Rivera, Pangulo, Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA)
  • Rolando Ocampo, Spokesperson, Prudentialife Warriors/Movement for Change and Good Governance
  • Red Batario, Executive Director, Center for Community Journalism and Development
  • G. Sevilla Alvarez, Program Director, Center for Community Journalism and Development
  • Mae Paner (Juana Change), Juana Change Movement
  • Mr. Ernie Ordoñez, Chairperson, Alyansa Agrikultura
  • Norman Cabrera, Secretary General, Ang Kapatiran Party
  • Joseph Anthony Lim, Professor, Economics Department, Ateneo De Manila University
  • Flordeliz L. Abanto, Broadcast Journalism Coordinator, St. Scholastica's College, Manila
  • Nicole Curato, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
  • Alma Maria O. Salvador, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
  • Carmel Abao, Department of Political Science, Ateneo De Manila University
  • Marivic Raquiza, Assistant Professor, UP-NCPAG
  • Joy Aceron, Program Director, Government Watch/ PODER, Ateneo School of Government
  • Dante G. Simbulan, Jr. Professor, De La Salle Health Science Institute
  • Anne Lan Candelaria, Department of Political Science, Ateneo de Manila University
  • Romeo Royandoyan, Centro Saka
  • Ric Reyes, President, Freedom from Debt Coalition
  • Lidy Nacpil, Regional Coordinator, Jubilee South - Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development (JS APMMD)
  • Cielo Magno, Executive Director, Bantay Kita
  • John Carlos G. de los Reyes, Candidate for Senator (2013), Ang Kapatiran Party
  • Rizalito Y. David, Candidate for Senator (2013), Ang Kapatiran Party
  • Joseph Purugganan, Coordinator, EU-ASEAN FTA Network
  • Carlo Brolagda, Chairperson, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council (CSSPSC), UP Diliman and Convenor, FOI Youth Initiative (FYI)
  • Chris Alquizalas, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council (CSSPSC), UP Diliman and Convenor, FOI Youth Initiative (FYI)
  • Viko Fumar, President, BUKLOD CSSP, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Joseph Angelo Gutierrez, Chairperson, Movement of Students for Progressive Leadership in UP (MOVE UP), University of the Philippines - Los Baños
  • Ace Ligsay, Chairperson, UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (UP ALYANSA), University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • JC Tejano, National Chairperson, Bukluran ng mga Progresibong Iskolar - UP System (BUKLURAN - UP SYSTEM), University of the Philippines System
  • Tristan Daine Zinampan, Chairperson, Linking Everyone Towards Service CDC (LETS CDC), College of Development Communication, University of the Philippines - Los Baños
  • Joshua Lorenzo Layog, Primer, Katipunan CHE, College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines - Los Baños
  • April Lamentillo, Supremo, Sandigan ng mga Iskolar para sa Nagkakaisang CAS (SINAG CAS), College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines - Los Baños
  • Deg Daupan, President, Alternatibong Katipunan ng mga Mag-aaral (AKMA), University of the Philippines - Baguio
  • Joshua Young, Chairperson, Bigkis ng mga Iskolar Para sa Bayan Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago - UPM (BIGKIS-UPM), University of the Philippines - Manila
  • Edward Dayog, President, UP Organization of Human Rights Advocates (OHRA), University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Mickey Eva, President, Coalition for Students’ Rights and Welfare (STRAW Coalition)
  • John Mark Salvador, President, Bagong Benilde, De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde
  • Curt Russel Lopez Delfin, President, Metro Manila Alliance of Communication Students (MACS)
  • Marlon Cornelio, National Chaiperson, Akbayan Youth
  • Melba Tampakan, National Chairperson, Alliance of Progressive Labor - Youth (APL Youth)
  • Marian Bahalla, Chairperson, Laban COC Party, College of Communication, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
  • Arjay Mercado, President, UP Economics Towards Consciousness (ETC), University of the Philippines - Diliman 
  • Gio Alejo, President, Sanggunian ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Manila University 
  • Moses Albiento, Chairperson, Alliance of Student Leaders (ASL), Ateneo de Manila University
  • Benedict Nisperos, President, Law Student Government (LSG), College of Law, University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Walter Tamayo, History Department Representative, AngKAS (CSSP History Department Core Group), University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Ernest Calayag, Secretary General, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP)
  • Nico Ibaviosa, President, UP Alliance for Responsive Involvement and Student Empowerment (ARISE), College of Engineering, University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Gibby Gorres, Executive Director, Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking (CYAN) 
  • Ara Tan, President, UP Kalipunan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Sosyolohiya (KMS), University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Serge Aclan, Chairperson, College of Allied Medical Professions Student Council (CAMPSC), University of the Philippines - Manila
  • Jason Alacapa, Chairperson, University Student Council (UPM USC), University of the Philippines - Manila
  • Marjorie Anne Yoro, Suprema, UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo (KaPiTas), University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Karla Mae de Leon, Suprema, UP Kalipunan para sa Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiyang Pilipino (UP KAPPP), University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Luisa Lioanag, Bos Tsip-Tsip, UP Bukluran sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Buklod-Isip), University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Patricza Torio, Tagapangulo, UP Lipunang Pangkasaysayan (LIKAS), University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Paulina Miranda, Chairperson, College of Education Student Council (CESC), University of the Philippines - Diliman 
  • Joni Dumasig, President, Union of Progressive Students (UPS), University of the Philippines - Cebu 
  • Fred Omalza, President, People United to Lead, Obey, and Serve (PULOS), University of the Philippines - Mindanao 
  • Ema Escanilla, Speaker, UP People-Oriented Leadership in the Interest of Community Awareness (UP POLITICA), University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Van Battad, President, UP Sirkulo ng mga Kabataang Artista (SIKAT), University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Heart Diño, Chairperson, University Student Council (UPD USC), University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Robin Charles Ramos, President, Cor Jesu Association of Graduate Students (CJAGS), Cor Jesu College, Digos City, Davao del Sur
  • Juan Paulo Oreta Rodriguez, Executive Board / Federation Chairman, Barkadahang San Joseño, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan  
  • Leo Christian Lauzon, Chairperson, Youth Against Debt (YAD) Eastern Visayas
  • Jennifer Julia Lacaba, President, Animal Concerns and Awareness Club (AC2), University of the Philippines - Visayas Tacloban College
  • Princess Kimberly Ubay-ubay, President, School of Business and Management Student Council (SBMSC), Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro City
  • Frezalva Vir Burce, Program Coordinator / Child Protection Officer, Children International - Child Sponsorship for Community Development Inc. (CSCDI), Tabaco City, Albay
  • Roy Dahildahil, Chairperson, Partido sang Mainuswagon nga Bumulutho (PMB), University of the Philippines - Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo
  • Glosuvel Requina, President, Council of Maritime Leaders (CML), University of Cebu - Maritime Education and Training Center, Cebu City
  • Cedrick Sagun, President, UST Political Science Forum (UST-TPSF), University of Santo Tomas - Manila
  • Dawn Po Quimque, President, College of Communication Student Council (COC-SC), Polytechnic University of the Philippines
  • Jonah Elaine Abubakar, President, School of Business and Management (SBM) - Business Economics Society (BES), Universidad de Zamboanga, Zamboanga City
  • Michael Villamor, President, Supreme Student Government - Northern Cebu Colleges, Bogo City, Cebu
  • Danise Talaba, President, Team Communication (TeamComm), De La Salle University - Manila
  • Xander Losaria, OIC / Secretary General, SENTRO - La Salle, De La Salle University - Dasmariñas
  • Jem Francelle Sanico, Chairperson, Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Alternatibong Reporma at Pagbabago (SAMAR Party), University of Eastern Philippines, Northern Samar
  • Charisse Marie Catama, Student Regent, University of Eastern Philippines, Northern Samar
  • Marlon Padua, Vice President for Non-Academics, STI Student Council, STI College - Southwoods, Carmona, Cavite
  • Anne Lorraine Garcia, Most Idyllic Sister, UP Sigma Beta Sorority, University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Jana Cabuhat, President, University Student Government (DLSU USG), De La Salle University - Manila
  • Allenia Nia Chua, Vice President, Youth Aids Filipinas Alliance (YAFA), University of the Philippines - Visayas Tacloban College
  • Arisa Bajana, Lord Chancellor, Vox La Salle Debate Society, De La Salle University - Dasmariñas
  • Renier Louie Bona, Youth Representative, TLF - Sexuality, Health, and Rights Educators (TLF-SHARE) Collective, Inc.
  • Gab Andres, President, Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista (TAPAT), De La Salle University - Manila
  • Kelvin Tagnipez, Chairperson, School of Economics Student Council (SESC), University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • John Tobit Cruz, President, Angat Kabataan, Taytay, Rizal
  • Migs Angeles, Secretary General, Akbayan Youth - UPD, University of the Philippines - Diliman
  • Khim Joseph Naval, President, Association of Political Science Students, University of Nueva Caceres, Naga City, Camarines Sur
  • Paolo Martin Saberon, Executive Director, Cebuano Youth Ambassadors
  • Starjoan Villanueva, Executive Director, Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao
  • Marwil Llasos, Candidate for Senator (2013), Ang Kapatiran Party
  • Carlos Cabochan,  Candidate for Representative, 2nd District of Caloocan City (2013), Ang Kapatiran Party
  • Harry Tambuatco,  Candidate for Representative, Lone district of Muntinlupa city (2013), Ang Kapatiran Party
  • Edilberto M. Cuenca,  Candidate for Representative, 1st District of Makati City (2013), Ang Kapatiran Party
  • Mr. Frank Reyes, Candidate for Representative, Lone District of Mandaluyong City (2013), Ang Kapatiran Party
  • Bong Fabe, Freelance journalist
  • Aurora Regalado, Lead Convenor, Rice Watch and Action Network
  • Pablo Rosales, Pangulo, Progresibong Alyansa ng mga Mangingisda (PANGISDA)
  • Boy Alban, Pangulo, League of Urban Poor for Action (LUPA)
  • Jun Pascua, National Coordinator, Pambansang Katipunan ng Makabayang Magbubukid (PKMM)
  • Relito Arisgado, Pangulo, Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Maralita ng Malabon
  • Elvira Baladad, Samahang 53 nd Macabud
  • Trinidad Domingo, Spokesperson, Save Agrarian Reform Alliance
  • Merci Llarinas Angeles, Executive Director, Peace Women Partners
  • Arvin A. Jo, Focal Person, The Access Initiative (TAI)-Philippines
  • Baibonn D. Sangid, Former Chairperson, Young Moro Professionals Network
  • Gloria Santos, President, Kilusan at Ugnayan ng Maralitang Pasigueño (KUMPAS)
  • Janel Pesons, Secretary General, Mindanao People's Peace Movement (MPPM)
  • Roy Jerusalem Cabonegro, Secretary General, GREENS PH (Philippine Green Party/ Partido Kalikasan) and Executive Director, Partido.Kalikasan (Greens PH) Institute Inc.
  • Ren Bondad, Sanlakas Youth
  • Alex Castro, KAISA-UP Diliman
  • Ronald Salas, Social Action Center, Maasin, Southern Leyte
  • Rafaela David, Good Governance Advocate
  • Hermie Oraya, Provincial Coordinator, Youth for Rights, Eastern Samar
  • Ronald Allan Barnacha, Chairperson, PRRM Nueva Viscaya
  • Roldan Gonzales, Executive Director, Gitib
  • Datu Jimboy Catawanan, President, SOLED-Ki
  • Chadwick Llanos, Focal Person, Cebu Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Environment
  • Grace Villanueva, Executive Director, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC)
  • Mai Taqueban, Deputy Director for Research and Policy Development, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC)
  • Manjette Lopez, President, Sanlakas Party List
  • Rasti Delizo, Alliance Coordinator, Sanlakas Party List
  • Philip Adula, Coordinator, Sanlakas, Eastern Samar
  • Jefferson Agaloos, Chairperson, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Youth Association
  • Evelyn Lacambra, President, CLAIM Lallo
  • Tanie S. Suaño, Executive Director, Convergence of NGOs/POs in Zamboanga del Sur on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development
  • Carmencita Andoy, Environmental Awareness Team, Misamis Occidental
  • Mary Ann V. Fuertes, Executive Director, Interface Development Interventions (IDIS), Davao City
  • Strauss Fernandez, Executive Secretary, RECON Philippines
  • Jean Enriquez, Executive Director, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific
  • Benito Molino, Chairperson, Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz (CCOS-Zambales)
  • Jose Melvin Lamanilao, Executive Director, Paglilingkod Batas Pangkapatiran Foundation, Inc.
  • Jaybee Garganera, Coordinator, Alyansa Tigil Mina


05 February 2013

[FYI in The Freeman (Philippine Star)] Youth orgs push for FOI passage



by AJ de la Torre with Marigold Lebumfacil/MBG (The Freeman) 

CEBU, Philippines - Representatives of youth organizations challenged members of the House of Representatives to prove their fight against corruption by continually pushing for the approval of the Freedom of  Information (FOI) bill.

Together with the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) and Sanlakas Cebu, officers of the Union of Progressive Students (UPS), the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines and the Cebuano Youth Ambassadors stressed on the need for the passage of the bill before the House of Representatives take a recess on February 9.

Rarry Abatol, FOI campaign head of UPS, said that as they push for transparency in school governments, the local and national government should also do their part considering President Benigno Aquino’s thrust to fight corruption.

Abatol expressed their strong support for the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), a network of youth and student organizations that call for transparency and accountability in government through the passage of the FOI bill.

 “We believe that the FOI law is a measure that shall curb corruption and advance participatory governance that will ultimately benefit each and every Filipino. We appeal to Malacañang to not merely express support for the FOI bill but to strongly push for its enactment in fulfillment of its promise of change under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III,” FYI’s statement read.

Abatol expressed the urgent need for the bill to be passed into a law, as the Philippines is being left behind other countries that have been seeing the advantage of the bill in terms of eliminating corruption.

Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar, one of the authors of the FOI bill, is grateful for the support of the youth groups.

“I’m happy about this development, I agree and I’m supporting the bill, since I am the author of it as well,” said del Mar.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña, for his part, confirms that he would vote for the bill.

“I don’t have to prove anything but I believe in transparency and would vote for FOI,” said Osmeña.

Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district is also supporting the bill.

“I fully support the FOI bill and am still hopeful that it can be passed before congress adjourns.  There is no higher priority than empowerment of the citizenry through transparency,” Quisumbing said in a text message to The FREEMAN.

Aaron Pedrosa, secretary general of FDC, believe that there is still time for the bill to progress even with a few days remaining before the 15th congress ends.

Pedrosa said that with Aquino’s leadership and platform against corruption, the FOI should have been made as an urgent bill.

“It is only but fitting to be consistent,” Pedrosa said.

Sanlakas Spokesperson Teody Navea said that they find it ironic that the president has not made the bill urgent since it supports his cause for a clean government.

Last week, Quezon City Representative Erin Tañada, one of the authors of the bill, said that President Aquino might be open to certifying the measure as urgent as he continually monitors the proceedings for the bill.

Party-list Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption Representative Sherwin Tugna encouraged Filipinos who are seeking for the approval of the bill to join in and let their call be heard by the President to make the bill urgent. 

01 February 2013

[FYI in the Philippine Star] White flag raised on FOI bill

From http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/02/01/903512/white-flag-raised-foi-bill.

[Note: The FOI Youth Initiative (FYI) was mistakenly referred to as Youth Advocates of the Freedom of Information bill (YFI) in this particular article.]

by Paolo Romero

MANILA, Philippines - There’s no more time, no quorum, and no presidential certification.

With these factors lacking, the sponsor of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in the House of Representatives has given up on the measure.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, chairman of the House committee on public information, said even if the bill is approved on second reading next week, three more session days are needed to have the measure approved on third and final reading.

The measure, which is strongly supported by various organizations, including business groups, was finally introduced in plenary on Monday to start the debates and possibly the inclusion of amendments.

But Congress has only three session days left next week before it goes on a break for the campaign period.

“No more, the white flag’s raised already,” Evardone told reporters on Wednesday shortly after session was suspended until next week. “There’s no quorum and it’s unlikely that they’ll show up in June,” he said, referring to the brief resumption of session before the 15th Congress finally adjourns.

The group Youth Advocates of the Freedom of Information bill (YFI) slammed Evardone for his failure to conduct hearings on the bill at the start of the 15th Congress in 2010.

“It was ‘Doctor’ Evardone who declared that the FOI bill was ‘dead’ due to lack of time and quorum in the House of Representatives. However, it is clear that the main cause was ‘legislative malpractice’ on his part,” YFI convenor Carlo Brolagda said.

“If we look back, it was Evardone who didn’t call for enough committee hearings for the bill to be tackled at the soonest possible time when the 15th Congress began,” he said.

With three remaining session days left, the group conceded the FOI bill could no longer be passed unless President Aquino certifies it as urgent.

YFI said the FOI bill was part of Aquino’s campaign promises in 2010.

“We will continue to fight for this,” Brolagda said.

“Our democracy will remain incomplete without a law on freedom of information. We young people will be persistent and steadfast in our struggle for a government that is open and honest to the people it serves.”

Evardone, however, dismissed criticisms that he was among those sitting on the transparency bill, which is opposed by President Aquino.

He said he waited for some time for comments from various sectors, and that the Department of National Defense and even the National Archives want the measure blocked.

He said 117 out of 284 lawmakers in the chamber signed the bill.

Evardone said it appeared that support for the FOI bill in the chamber was not solid, “otherwise they should have showed up and pushed for it.”

While most House members support the FOI bill, critics said they fear antagonizing Malacañang in pushing for its passage. – Helen Flores, Celso Amo

[FYI in freedominfo.org, the Global Network of FOI Advocates] Lack of Aquino Support Seen Dooming Philippines FOI Bill




Time appears to be running out for freedom of information legislation in the Philippines in the absence of support from President Benigno Aquino and with only three days left in this session of Congress.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda on Jan. 31 said, “Our position is let’s have a debate, a healthy debate on this issue and we’ll take it from there.”

Lacierda was responding to reporters following public appeals from the Catholic Bishops Conference and others to actively support the bill by declaring its passage an urgent priority, according to a report on ABS-CBN News.

Members of the House quoted sources within the administration as saying the president does not want the bill passed.

Lacierda’s comments came after a week in which the House started the debate on the bill with three speeches from the bill’s sponsors, but never returned to it. The session is due to end Feb. 6 after three more days in session beginning Feb. 3.

In recent weeks and days the bill’s supporters have called for help from Aquino. His “certification” of the bill as urgent would compress the procedures necessary for its passage.

History of Delay

Aquino made passage of a FOI bill a campaign promise, but took more than a year to draft a bill, essentially the bill now before the House. That bill was reluctantly accepted as a compromise by the coalition supporting FOI. It was passed in the Senate in June, but languished in a House committee chaired by Rep. Ben Evardone, an avowed supporter who “dribbled” the bill, in the words of its advocates. (See previous FreedomInfo.org report on delays.)

After finally being overwhelming approved by the committee, and apparently with enough support to pass in the House, the bill never was made a priority by House leaders. Many supporters fault Aquino for lukewarm support of the bill for the past several years.

“It is ironic that the government that prides itself of treading the Daang Matuwid (straight path) fears the FOI because of possible discovery of wrongdoing by public officials. Why are they afraid to entrust the citizens with the truth of their governance?” the bishops said in a statement.

Members Say Malacañang Opposes Passage

Several House members have said the inside word was that the administration did not want to see the bill passed.

Rep. Rodolfo Albano, a member of the minority bloc, told reporters, “I heard that the Malacañang is not for it,” according to The Inquirer.

Albano was quoted by The Manila Standard as saying that the president “does not like the FOI bill.” Albano told reporters, “That’s what I gathered from Palace sources.”

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said, “If they want the FOI they can just ram it through our throat.” Suarez told reporters in a news conference, “But obviously, the Palace itself is not interested in passing the bill,” according to a report in The Manila Standard.

Rep. Sherwin Tugna Jan. 29 was quoted as saying that “FOI is not supported by Malacañang” [the Philippine term for the presidency], according to a report in The Inquirer.

FOI bill co-author Rep. Walden Bello said, “I don’t really know what Malacañang priorities are at this point. In fact, I am not sure if the House leadership wants this bill to get through.”

In a speech Jan. 30, Rep. Teodoro Casiño said, “Malacañang has been stalling the passage of an FOI bill, even the severely watered down version at that,” according to an Inquirer article.

“President Aquino’s FOI version is so limited that transparency and accountability are restricted, illustrated by the many exemptions that cover corrupt practices, human rights violations and policy making,” he was quoted as saying.

Inquirer reporter Karen Boncocon wrote that “a source from the House, who asked not to be identified,” said a minority group in the House was being used “to stop the bill from moving forward.”

During the week of Jan. 27, three sponsorship speeches were delivered: by Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada and Evardone on Jan. 27 and Rep. Teddy Baguilat on Jan. 29. Baguilat urged fellow House members to “heed the demands of the people we represent, let us pass the FOI Bill.”

The Inquirer summarized, “The bill was not tackled on Tuesday and its authors suspected that this was due to the lack of quorum and the leadership’s fear that question of quorum would be raised.” The House minority was resisting movement on the bill with procedural moves, Boncocon reported.

Evardone Gives Bill “Little Chance”

On Jan. 30, The Inquirer said in another article that Evardone, the chairman of the House committee on public information said the bill (House Bill 6766) had “very little chance.”

Evardone said suspicions of opposition from Malacañang were “unfounded.”

“Malacañang cooperated with the committee in the crafting of the bill. There was no word that reached me that Malacañang is against it,” he said.

Carlo Brolagda, convenor of the FOI Youth Initiative, said, “It was ‘Doctor’ Evardone who declared that the FOI Bill was ‘dead’ due to lack of time and quorum in the House of Representatives. However, it is clear that the main cause was ‘legislative malpractice’ on his part.”

Brolagda continued, “He made us wait until the final months before the start of the 2013 elections, and made so many excuses like the absence of a Liberal Party position on the bill to the unavailability of a room to house the meeting,” he said.

Tañada Regrets White Flag

Reacting to Evardone’s comments, Deputy Speaker Tañada said, “hindi pa naman (Not yet). I heard Ben is waiving the white flag. I guess it is his nature,” according to The Inquirer. The article continued:

“The records of the committee and the history of FOI will judge him. I hope he delegates his authority to me or to Representative (Teddy) Baguilat or Representative (Walden) Bello so we can debate the FOI on the floor with anyone who is interested to debate with the sponsors,” he said.

Tañada added that he would rather “try to push for the FOI as far as I and the sponsors can and let it be known that it was again the House members, including the minority, who killed FOI due to lack of quorum.”

“If Representative Ben (Evardone) refuses to delegate his authority, then it becomes quite obvious to everyone that he also doesn’t want FOI to be debated on the floor,” Tañada also said.

In a television interview Jan. 31, Tañada said Aquino “is watching how the process will go. If we can get the bill to a second-reading vote, I think he will act appropriately,” according to an article in The Star.

 “Even if we have only four session days to go before we adjourn next week for the elections in May, we can still do it because we have more sessions in June when we reconvene,” he added.

Congress will go on a long four-month break for the election campaign next weekend and will convene for four days starting June 3 before adjourning again.

Minority Opposition

Authors of the bill also have pointed to the minority bloc as having prevented them from proceeding with delivering sponsorship speeches.

Only Evardone, Tañada and Baguilat have delivered their sponsorship speeches.

Bello said he sought to reclassify his privilege speech on Monday as his sponsorship speech but this was opposed by House Minority Leader Suarez.

A fourth sponsorship speech, by Tugna, was inserted into the House record after the opposition reportedly blocked its delivery on the floor. Tugna, a co-author of the bill, said it was frustrating that the lack of quorum was impeding majority control of the House.

Philippines Slides in Another Indexes

The Philippines came in 147th place among 179 countries included in the 2013 World Press Freedom Index just released by the France-based Reporters Without Borders, down from 140th place in the previous year’s report.

Separately, government officials weighed in with objections following criticisms of government budget transparency made in a blog post by the Philippines Center for Investigative Reporting. The subject of the posting was a slide in the rating of the Philippines in the latest report from the International Budget Project.

[FYI in Journal Online] FOI executioner

From http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/editorial/44001-foi-executioner.

by Nolan Abelilla

Call him ‘Doctor Death’ from now on.

As a former reporter himself, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone could only have been the natural defender-in-chief of the Freedom of Information bill.

We in media can only expect that a colleague would lead the congressional charge for full transparency or disclosure of official transactions that impact on the public interest.     

After all, he was not made chairman of the House committee on public information for nothing.

How dead wrong we were.

In a spineless act of surrender, Evardone casually raised the white flag for a meaningful advocacy which was – quite ironically – courageously pushed by a  congressional colleague with absolutely no journalism background but whose heart is in the right place — Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada. Take a bow, Congressman Tañada.         

In a shameless move for which he would be remembered in infamy by both his former colleagues in media and transparency campaigners, the lawmaker declared his apparent “surrender” over the ill fate of the FOI bill in the 15th Congress.

Thus, youth leaders expressed their disappointment and frustration. 

“It was ‘Doctor’ Evardone who declared that the FOI bill was ‘dead’ due to lack of time and quorum in the House of Representatives. However, it is clear that the main cause was ‘legislative malpractice’ on his part,” said Carlo Brolagda, convenor of the FOI Youth Initiative, a network of 70 youth organizations and student councils from all over the country fighting for the passage of the said measure.

Brolagda, also  chairman of the UP Diliman CSSP Student Council, added: “If we look back, it was Evardone – himself a former campus journalist and student leader in the early 1980s — who didn’t call for enough committee hearings for the bill to be tackled at the soonest possible time when the 15th Congress began. He made us wait until the final months before the start of the 2013 elections, and made so many excuses like the absence of a Liberal Party position on the bill to the unavailability of a room to house the meeting.”

“We find it insulting that he faces the media trying to create an image that he did everything he can to save the measure, when in fact, he was the one who actually killed it,” said Arjay Mercado, president of the UP Economics Towards Consciousness.

Mercado stressed: “FOI is a youth and student issue also. Our right to information shouldn’t be denied by so-called Representatives who fear transparency and accountability.”

With three remaining session days left, the FYI sees that the bill can no longer be passed unless  President Aquino certifies it as urgent. They noted that the FOI bill was once part of the President’s campaign promises in 2010. 

“We will continue to fight for this,” said Brolagda, “Our democracy will remain incomplete without a law on freedom of information. We young people will be persistent and steadfast in our struggle for a government that is open and honest to the people it serves.” 

Government is about making things happen,  getting things done, but with Evardone in the House, expect things to never get done.

[FYI in Manila Standard Today] Aquino, Evardone let go of FOI Bill



by Joyce Pangco Panares 

President Benigno Aquino III will not certify as urgent the Freedom on Information bill with three remaining session days left for the 15th Congress to pass the measure.

Even the bill’s main sponsor, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, has thrown in the towel, saying the measure had “very little chance” of hurdling plenary discussions.

“We do not have the material to debate on the measure within the remaining session days of Congress,” Evardone said.

Congress has only until Wednesday next week to finish work before the campaign period starts.

“That [certifying the FOI bill as urgent] is a very difficult request for me to do. There are specific conditions under the Constitution as to when I can use my powers to certify a measure as urgent,” the President said.

“The debate on the FOI has just started on plenary.”

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the circumstances surrounding the FOI bill were not the same as when Mr.

Aquino certified the reproductive health bill as urgent in December.

“Our position is let’s have a debate, a healthy debate, on this issue and we will take it from there,” Lacierda said.

“This government has plenty of FOI advocates and we certainly understand the concerns of the FOI advocates, but we need to have a healthy debate on this particular issue as we have seen a healthy debate that transpired in the passing of the Sin Tax Law as well as the Responsible Parenthood Law.”

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño was dismayed at Evardone’s pronouncement.

“We express our disgust with the way the FOI bill has been killed by the President’s men in Congress,” Casiño said.

“Congressman Evardone’s throwing in the towel...is just the last nail on the coffin that was designed and built by the President himself.”

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat said a miracle was needed to pass the FOI bill.

“It is no longer feasible to pass [the bill] unless President Aquino miraculously certifies it,” he said.

House Assistant Majority Leader Sherwin Tugna said there was no way the bill would be enacted even if the President certified it.

“Sad to say, the remaining six days are not enough,” Tugna said.

He said most of his colleagues were now busy preparing for the May 13 elections.

Reps. Federico Quimbo and Erin Tañada saud there was not enough public awareness of what the proposed transparency law was about and how it would benefit the public.

The FOI Youth Initiative, a network of 70 youth organizations and student councils fighting for the measure’s passage, said it was disappointed with Evardone.

“It was ‘Doctor’ Evardone who declared that the FOI bill was ‘dead’ due to lack of time and quorum in the House of Representatives,” group convenor Carlo Brolagda said.

“However, it is clear that the main case was ‘legislative’ malpractice on his part.”

Arjay Mercado, president of the UP Economics Towards Consciousness, also criticized Evardone.

“We find it insulting that he faces the media trying to create an image that he did everything he [could] to save the measure when, in fact, he was the one who actually killed it,” Mercado said. With Maricel Cruz

[FYI in The Daily Tribune] Evardone killed FOI bill — youth groups



After Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, the chairman of the House committee on public information, declared his apparent “surrender” over the ill fate of the Freedom of Information (FoI) bill in the 15th Congress, youth leaders expressed their disappointment and frustration over the matter.

“It was ‘Doctor’ Evardone who declared that the FoI bill was ‘dead’ due to lack of time and quorum in the House of Representatives. However, it is clear that the main cause was ‘legislative malpractice’ on his part,” said Carlo Brolagda, convenor of the FoI Youth Initiative (FYI), a network of 70 youth organizations and student councils from all over the country fighting for the passage of the said measure.

Brolagda, also the chairman of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman College of Social Science and Philosophy Student Council, said “If we look back, it was Evardone who didn’t call for enough committee hearings for the bill to be tackled at the soonest possible time when the 15th Congress began. He made us wait until the final months before the start of the 2013 elections and made so many excuses (from) the absence of a Liberal Party position on the bill to the unavailability of a room to house the meeting.”

“We find it insulting that he faces the media (pretending) that he did everything he can to save the measure, when in fact, he was the one who actually killed it,” said Arjay Mercado, president of the UP Economics Towards Consciousness (ETC).

Mercado emphasized that “FoI is a youth and student issue also. Our right to information shouldn’t be denied by so-called representatives who fear transparency and accountability.”

With three remaining session days left, the FYI sees that the bill can no longer be passed unless the President certifies it as urgent. They noted that the FoI bill was once part of President Aquino’s campaign promises in 2010. 

“We will continue to fight for this,” said Brolagda, “Our democracy will remain incomplete without a law on freedom of information. We young people will be persistent and steadfast in our struggle for a government that is open and honest to the people it serves.”

[FYI in the Inquirer] Letter to the Editor: Congress reps should show up

From http://opinion.inquirer.net/45955/congress-reps-should-show-up.

We in the FOI Youth Initiative are extremely dismayed by the failure of our elected legislators to fulfill their duty to attend sessions of the House of Representatives.

Personal electoral concerns should never get in the way of their duty to pass relevant legislation like the freedom of information bill. When students skip classes, we miss out on the opportunity to learn. However, when legislators skip sessions, they shirk their mandate to serve.

No to further delays! Enact the FOI Law now!

JEFF CRISOSTOMO,
FOI Youth Initiative,
youth4foi@gmail.com
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