The Senate passed the Freedom of Information bill on 3rd reading yesterday while the rally calling for the said move was on-going.
As part of the Access to Information Network which has been pushing for the FOI legislation since the 12th Congress, and the Right to Know. Right Now! network which has contributed significantly to the advocacy, TAN is grateful to all those who have supported this endeavor towards greater transparency in governance.
The following is a blow-by-blow account about yesterday's event and a thank you message from the Right to Know. Right Now! network.
Dear all,
This time we were at the Senate in numbers when it happened. About 800 of us marched to the Senate at 10:40 am yesterday. While we were in touch with the offices of Senators Alan and Migs Zubiri, there was nothing certain. We had a standing request for the two of them to meet the rally at the Senate grounds, but even that they have not confirmed. We thank Rep. Erin for making himself readily available to meet the rally -- he was already at the Senate parking lot. When we reached the Senate grounds at past 11, Vince and I went to the parking lot to fetch Rep Erin as the rally program began. At about this time we received a call from the office of Sen. Alan; Sen. Arroyo has expressed further reservations on the bill and is asking for a deferment of the approval on third reading.
At 11:47, it was official. Atty. Jong De Guzman of the Senate Secretariat texted that Senate Bill 3308 will not be taken up for the day as Sen. Joker has asked for its deferment.
At 11:54 Atty. Jong sent another text -- there's a change; it might still be taken up.
At 11:59 Ely of CCJD, who was inside to send our letters to the Senators early in the morning, and who was monitoring the session and coordinating with the staff of Sen Zubiri on our invitation for him to meet the rally, texted that SB 3308 is already being taken up on the floor.
At 12 noon, we received the congratulatory text from Atty. Jong: It's passed on third reading. With Rep. Erin, we wait out for Sen Migs and Sen Alan to meet the rally. The rally outside is losing steam from the heat of the sun and the long wait, and running out of speakers. At past one we walk out with Rep Erin and Sen Migs to the Rally for their speeches. Sen Alan meets up for his speech as well.
Let me say that the rally contributed substantuially to the approval on third reading. Sen Migs ad Sen Allan wanted it approved before coming out to the rally. When Sen Joker expressed his continuing reservations on the bill, Sen Migs included the rally in his arguments to convince Sen Joker to proceed with approval. In his words: "Manong Joker, kawawa naman yung mga tao sa labas. If we don't approve this now, it's like we allowed the marriage of two people, only to prevent their honeymoon." Senator Joker relented, and the bill was approved, with Sen Joker only manifesting his reservations.
We thank all those who marched to the Senate. APL, PM, MAKABAYAN, KPD, BMP, AKBAYAN, PSLINK, and BUKLOD TAO came through wth their committed numbers. CCJD, Focus on the Global South, AIJC, LRC, TAN, TI, AER, were some of he organizations I recall were there. Thanks too to PCIJ for the pre-rally media release. Thanks to those who contributed resources for the event. Thanks to all of us for the solidarity.
Now we go to the next hurdle: Bicam. We are working closely with Rep. Erin and Sen Alan on this.
Best regards,
Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan
