Why mere lip service for freedom of info?
There’s a strong call for President Aquino to support the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, which appears to be stuck deep in a quagmire of hypocrisy in Congress. We cannot say what is going on in the head of the President as to why he openly and obstinately supported the reproductive health and sin tax bills, but when it comes to the FOI bill, which hews closest to his administration’s core agenda of “daang matuwid,” he cannot even express lukewarm support.
It would be great if we could get the real reason behind President Aquino’s reluctance to fully back something that can foster good governance. Is he or his administration hiding something? We all have heard the Aquino administration’s avowal to fight corruption and shady activities in government, but why is he not pushing for a bill seeking to promote transparency within government? Other than trying to create an antigraft task force to be led by someone with a sketchy past and overusing the “daang matuwid” battle cry, the enactment of the FOI bill into law will be a refreshing development that is certain to bolster Mr. Aquino’s war on corruption.
So why is President Aquino giving it mere lip-service support?
—GERARD PABLOR,
