By Sammy F. Martin
MANILA, March 22 (PNA) — The passage of the controversial Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in the House of Representatives is expected to increase its pace when Congress resumes session on May 5 after the suggestions of Malacanang were adopted by two administration lawmakers who sponsored the measure.
Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor Robredo and Batanes Rep. Henedina Abad penned House Bill No. 3237 which is almost identical to the version endorsed by the Palace to speed up its passage.
Those who have filed similar bills of different versions are Reps. Emmeline Aglipay (DIWA Party-list), Arlene Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands), Teddy Baguilat (Ifugao), Walden Bello (Akbayan Party-list), Winston Castelo (Quezon City), Barry Gutierrez (Akbayan Party-list), Leah Paquiz (Ang Nars Party-list), Gustavo Tambunting (Parañaque City), and Marcelino Teodoro (Marikina City).
The technical working group (TWG) of the House Committee on Public Information chaired by Misamis Occidental Rep. Jorge Almonte is consolidating all the bills filed.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. already assured the public in recent interviews that he is willing to be hanged if the FOI bill does not pass under his leadership in the 16th Congress.
“Except for the differences in the order of provisions and a few distinct provisions, the bill endorsed by Malacañang and the template reference bill are identical in most provisions, and substantially the same,” Aglipay explained in a text message.
While the TWG is still deliberating on every provision of the bill, Bag-ao said the versions of Robredo and Abad have both covered the concerns of the President and other government agencies on the national security exception, executive privilege, administrative offense for violators, list of documents required to be posted on the website, and clarifications on exemptions.
“We have attained a level of agreement with the Executive that was not there during the past Congresses. It is important that we are in unison and the communication remains open. We hope this will continue until we hurdle the plenary debates,” Bag-ao said. (PNA)