Senate keen to pass own version of Freedom of Information Act

MANILA, Philippines - Senators are keen to pass the People’s Ownership of Government Information (POGI) bill, the Senate’s version of the Freedom of Information  (FOI) Act.

Senators Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda as well as minority leader Alan Cayetano said necessary safeguards were put in the Senate’s measure to protect information related to national security.

“The FOI (bill) should not be controversial,” Cayetano said.

He said the issue on national security and executive privilege are included in the amendments, especially the Malacañang version.

“These are all addressed… We will make sure that it will not be hampered. There’s no need to reveal data that will affect security or operational aspects of the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Armed Forces,” Cayetano said.

The media and the public will have a remedy when the issue of national security is being used as an excuse to evade the release of pertinent information.

Cayetano noted that in the United States, there is a process of determination on whether some information related to the wiretapping case involving former President Nixon were classified as “court records” or “executive privilege.”