JV hits PNoy’s ‘lukewarm’ treatment on FOI bill

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito Estrada criticized the perceived “lukewarm” attitude of President Benigno Aquino III on the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, blaming his failure to certify the bill as “urgent” as the reason for its slow pace. 

“I’m quite disappointed and sad that the bill has not moved. My personal opinion is that it is not a priority measure by Malacanang and it is the reason why it has really not moved,” JV said in a press conference in Iloilo City Saturday.

JV, who is one of the authors of the FOI Bill, added, “As far as I can remember this (transparency) was also promised during the (Aquino) campaign but unfortunately when the Aquino administration took over they were already lukewarm on this measure.”

The 2013 polls senatorial candidate said the FOI Bill would have been a perfect measure to push for transparency and good governance, which the Aquino administration has been espousing through its “matuwid na daan (straight path)” campaign.

JV said: “If the president has certified something as urgent, if he says that he really needs this measure, by hook or by crook, the House leadership would move, as evidenced by the RH (Reproductive Health) Bill and the Sin Tax Bill that on the President’s signal it was passed. After it was (sic) ratified, it was filed into a law.”

Malacañang has taken the FOI Bill out of the agenda of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meet, JV complained.

The Senate has already passed its version of the bill on third and final reading, known as the proposed People’s Ownership of Government Information (POGI) Act, authored by Sen. Gregorio Honasan, but the House plenary has yet to receive the committee report on the measure.

Last week, some senators have called on President Aquino to certify the FOI bill as “urgent.” JV also made the same appeal last December following the failure of the House committee on public information to report it out in the plenary for second reading.

“We only have two weeks of plenary session. I don’t think it will really be passed,” JV added. (FREEMAN)