The Freedom of Information bill, is killed cold blood

By Vic G. del Pilar

There is only one strong and valid reason to consider.  Legislators do not want to be transparent in their dealings  with the public. That is with respect to how they would use public funds in funding  public projects. They want to continue to hide their transactions from the media to favor their personal gains, short of saying. They cannot only tell the public blunt and free. The more it hide their money transactions, the more money would go down their personal coffers.

The House of Congress, during its historic ending of the 14^th Session,  have accomplished nothing, as it closed its doors last night, "but claims of deceit, threats of arrests and declarations of outrage flew fast and furious," says PDI. Declared short of seven congressmen during its session last night, the House slammed its doors without ratifying the most important piece of legislation of all times, the Freedom of Information bill.

As usual the shroud of secrecy over government transactions would still be the game of the day. And the show must go on and on. The media as usual would  have no, or limited  right to look into how these funds are utilized?  How much funds were used  for a certain questionable and high profile projects? Where did funds go?  Why was the construction of the  mansion of the Mayor was completed ahead of the project, and so on and so fort. In short media practitioners would remain blinded over these government transactions far and wide. If I may view how would a legislators say and react to such a situation, one would say "happy days are still with us" because as usual, the media cannot pep in to our dirty linen. That I can dictate my gains.

Its ratification would have been the last step before the FOI bill submitted to the outgoing president, one of the country's best benchmark legislations. Information we gathered indicated that only the Philippines do not have such kind of law. That is perhaps the reason why the media is always at war with  our government administrators with respect to transparency of public records on how money are spent and abused.

The proponents of FOI tried to vainly save the 9-year old bill but all they failed. The House cannot muster the needed quorum and House Speaker Prospero Nograles said, no way out. Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casino said the proceedings were a disgrace as well as a fitting end of Congress that for the last three years has zealously protected its President and her minions from being held accountable against the people.

 Indeed it was a painful day. Irate Congressman Abante walked out of the hall ahead before the House of Congress  closed its doors.