MANILA, June 25, 2013— A Catholic bishop has reiterated the Church’s support for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill whether it is through “indirect initiative.”
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said they will support the measure in whatever mode just to promote transparency and accountability in the government.
“We will give them additional voice, join them in their meetings, and we will contribute in the discussions,” Pabillo said.
On Monday, the Right to Know Right Now coalition disclosed that they are set to file the People’s FOI bill in the 16th Congress via the indirect initiative.
Under Republic Act 6735 or the Initiative and Referendum Act, duly accredited people’s organizations may file a petition for indirect initiative with the House of Representatives and other legislative bodies.
Advocates of the FOI bill said that the Aquino administration had been cold on the FOI bill’s passage, which would provide substantive, procedural and institutional guarantee to the people’s constitutional right to information.
The Right to Know Right Now coalition said the People’s FOI bill will include the proposed amendments of the Malacañang Study Group, the bicameral conference report of the 14th Congress, and the refinements introduced in the previous House and Senate versions in the 15th Congress. (CBCPNews)
