Transparency and Accountability Network

CSO Collective Statement urging Congress to ratify Bicam Report on Freedom of Info Bill

After long struggle, the passage of the Freedom of Information Act is finally near at hand.

At the resumption of session last Monday (18 January), we marched to the House of Representatives with a rally contingent of 1000 to call on our House of Representatives to stand for Freedom of Information. With Committee on Public Information Chairman Bienvenido Abante, Jr., Vice Chairman Eduardo Zialcita, Committee TWG Chairman Lorenzo "Erin" Tañada III, and Minority member Rufus Rodriguez, we met with Speaker Prospero Nograles to appeal for the immediate constitution of the House Panel to the Bicameral Conference Committee on the Freedom of Information Act.

THE JUDICIAL AND BAR COUNCIL

Gentlemen:

The move of Judicial and Bar Council member, Rep. Matias Defensor, to advance the search process for the replacement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who retires four months from now on May 17, 2010, has created a maelstrom of controversy, with public opinion weighing heavily against it.  Even within the JBC, the issue has created divisions among the members, so much so that it had to put off resolving the issue in its last deliberations.