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| President Rodrigo Duterte signs the executive order on freedom of information |
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar revealed Sunday that Duterte signed the EO at 7 p.m. on Saturday. It was titled “Operationalizing in the executive branch the people’s constitutional right to information and the state policies of full public disclosure and transparency in the public service and providing guidelines thereof of the freedom of information.”
Andanar said it was a milestone for Duterte as he has only been seated as president for only 23 days while the FOI proposal has been filed 29 years ago by late Rep. Raul Roco.
"It just so happened that the EO was finalized on Saturday night when the chief presidential legal counsel Secretary Panelo, Executive Secretary Medialdea and Undersecretary Boy Quitain had finally agreed to this final draft," Andanar said in a televised press conference.
The FOI seeks to promote transparency and accountability in government to enjoin greater citizen participation and bring back the public’s trust.
Andanar said information that falls under any exceptions enshrined in the Constitution is excluded from the EO.
Earlier, Duterte announced that he would sign the FOI “at the very least” during the second week of July. However, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the issuance got a little delayed as some points were still being furnished.
On the other hand, Andanar said Duterte was preoccupied with the ruling on the South China Sea row issued by an international arbitral tribunal last July 11 but vowed that it would be signed ahead of the opening of the 17th Congress.
During the campaign period, Duterte said the FOI in the executive branch would be his first EO. However, after taking his oath of office as the country’s 16th president, his first issued EO was about the reorganization of the Office of the President.
The FOI has constantly been demanded by several groups including the media. It was part of former President Benigno Aquino III’s Aquino campaign in 2010 and was also part of his Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Plan of 2012-2016 but it was not delivered by his administration during his term.
Andanar said the copy of the EO with stamp and seal would be released on Monday.
