Palace belies claim that FOI is dead

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has belied the claim of Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III that the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill “is dead” if not passed into law by December.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Tañada’s statement ran counter to the assurance of Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone “that there’s going to be a hearing,” but that the budget deliberations were also being prioritized.

“And that’s the reason why Congressman Ben Evardone has already... if I’m not mistaken, he has issued a date for the hearing on the FOI,” he said.

Lacierda said he and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad had spoken with Evardone and asked him to allow the hearing on the FOI bill to continue.

“Let’s wait and see for the FOI... We would like to see first what’s the committee hearings on the FOI,” he said. 

“We don’t know yet what’s going to happen. And, again, we do not have control over the (House)... It’s budget season right now so, I think, the priority of the House is the budget, and we leave it with the House leaders to decide on the course or the schedule of the FOI bill.” 

Tañada had requested Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to ask the committee on public information to schedule a hearing next Tuesday to expedite the bill’s approval. Evardone, who chairs the public information committee, said he had set a meeting on Nov. 13.