MANILA, Jan. 24, 2013— It is a usual situation of “if there is will, there is a way”.
A Catholic priest and legal expert said over Radio Veritas Thursday that the Freedom of Information bill could still be saved if President Benigno Aquino III really wants it passed despite the limited time.
“They were completely in favor in this RH bill. Why can they not favor something which is so much more helpful?” said Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, Dean of San Beda College’s Graduate School of Law.
The priest believes that Malacañang is behind the setback hounding the passage of the FOI bill, which pushes transparency in government records and transactions.
“Malacañang’s silence on the FOI is very intriguing unlike on the Reproductive Health law,” he said.
“That’s a Malacañang agenda,” he said. “That’s what happens when your legislature is dominated by the partymates of the President in power.”
The FOI bill has yet to be tackled at the House plenary after more than a year of languishing at the committee level. (CBCPNews)
