Freedom of Information Act – a Bill for Filipino People

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Another 300 million had been wasted for the third time as House Speaker Prospero Nograles did not exert any effort for the Freedom of Information Act (FOI),  to be ratified yesterday, June 4, 2010. All the efforts of the people involved in passing the Bill that will give permission to Filipinos to access all information from all government offices was futile. The session hall had been filled with tension as the Camiguin Representative Jesus Romualdo raised  an objection against the bill’s ratification. According to him, it has not been a practice by the House to ratify  a law that has not undergone scrutiny and debate. The session was immediately adjourned because of lack of quorum. Only 128 congressmen remained on the session hall while there was a need of 135 congressmen to have a quorum. No matter how much FOI act principal author Bienvenido Abante insisted  that it has been a practiced for a long time that even without a quorum or debate, a bill can be passed just like those bills related to budget, local and anti-phonography, it just seems to be that he fought for the FOI in vain.

With this, we can apply the old saying that if anything wants to be done, people tend to seek any means just to get what they want. On the other hand, when they do not want something, they seek a number of reasons just to turn it down. If House Speaker Prospero Nograles really meant what that he prioritizes FOI bill, he will  be rational enough to answer what Camiguin Respresentative Jesus Romualdo raised. He just proved that he just pretended to be in favor with the FOI but in truth, he was not. It seems that there was something Prospero Nograles and other congressmen hides on people. It Is very disgusting to think that election had just passed and it seems those congressmen already forgot what they had promised to the people that they will served the latter.A conspiracy raises the doubt of other people who witnessed the arguments on the session hall. According to Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño, Malacañang was the one that blocked the bill. “Nothing happens in the house without Malacañang’s permission, especially on a bill like this,” Casiño said. It is undeniable that the present administration have been facing many anomalies such as the gift checks, Hello Garci scandal, ZTE Broandband deals, Fertilizer Scams and much more. If we will analyze, there is enough reason for the government not to passed that bill that can put her in trouble.

However, ending up the 14th Congress dismayed, Bievenido Abante and the rest of the Filipinos are still hoping that the next administration will do something to implement the Freedom of Information Act. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said once the FOI Act is ratified, it could help in eradicating corruption. As what Ninoy Aquino always say, “There will be no povery if there will be no corruption.”