Capitol asked to clarify order on release of public records

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Citizens-Press Council approved yesterday a resolution requesting the Cebu provincial government to clarify its rules on the release of public documents to the media.

This after Cebu Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino, in a memorandum dated November 9, stated that there should be a written request for information or production of records or documents, which should also be approved in writing by the concerned department head.

Upon recommendation of the Cebu Media Legal Aid, the CCPC is requesting the Capitol, through the governor and the Provincial Board, to clarify its “protocol” on the release of information and documents by stating in the memo the reasons or grounds for the department head concerned to withhold information and documents from the public.

The resolution also requests the governor to instruct or advise the department heads, preferably in the memo itself, to enforce the “protocol” judiciously, applying it only for regulation, not prohibition or suppression and for public good, regardless of whether it’s also tainted with political or private interest.

The CCPC resolution reads that amid the public noise created by the memo, including the publicized complaint of a radio broadcaster that his request for certain documents was rejected by Tolentino, Davide said the memo is “merely protocol” and is not a gag order.

Davide said he does not prevent the release of information from Capitol, stressing that his administration has always practiced transparency.

However, the memo may confuse media practitioners regarding its enforcement and may hamper, if not frustrate, their work of reporting and commenting on the news for a number of reasons, according to the CCPC resolution. (FREEMAN)