Who’s afraid of FOI?

IN the 2016 presidential election campaign, one of the top promises made by President Duterte was to stop graft and corruption in government service within the first six months of his term.

But alas, the very “promising” President has not fulfilled his pledge after more than four years of his term.

His was an empty promise.

In fact, he could have made good his pledge if only he certified the urgency and necessity of a freedom of information (FOI) law.

As if following his cue, no speaker of the House of Representatives has made serious effort to have any FOI bill considered in the legislature. Pantaleon Alvarez, former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Alan Peter Cayetano—all of them miserably failed despite the fact that an FOI law has long been awaited by the public.

Why are President Duterte and other officials very much afraid of and lukewarm to this legislative measure that can help foil attempts to commit corruption? The irregularities in PhilHealth, public works, and other agencies could have been nipped in the bud had there been a law that exposed corruption in government.

To repeat, what are they afraid of? Your guess is as good as mine.

God save the Philippines!

EUSEBIO S. SAN DIEGO
Founder, Kaguro
Former President, Quezon City Public School Teachers Association