Philippines leader issues freedom of information order

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines (AA) - Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a presidential order calling for freedom of information among all government offices under the executive branch as part of a transparency drive.

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar was quoted by GMA News as telling reporters Sunday that the order was a measure Duterte had been pushed for since his inauguration June 30.

Referring to the first resolution for freedom of information submitted to Congress decades ago, he said, “after 29 years and only 25 days under President Rodrigo Duterte, this is already a record breaking speed of a cornerstone or milestone or landmark executive order being signed."

He added that the president now left passage of the bill to both chambers of Congress.

Duterte has vowed to curb corruption and pursue transparency since winning the May 9 election, and signed the order two days before his first State of the Nation Address scheduled for Monday.

“The person who requests for information shall write a letter to the authorized personnel that is duly assigned by the head of the agency. The head of the agency shall review the letter, and if there [are] no questions with the request, then the person assigned should give the information not longer than 15 days,” Andanar said.

He, however, underlined that information deemed to “put our government in danger in terms of national security" would be exempt.

"Every Filipino shall have access to information, official records, public records and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for public-development," the order reads.