Letter to P. Noy from Right to Know. Right Now! Coalition

BALITA KAY JUAN Letter to P. Noy from Right to Know. Right Now! Coalition abs-cbnNEWS.com 20 July 2010 His Excellency BENIGNO S. AQUINO III President of the Philippines Malacañan Palace Manila Subject: Appeal for Inclusion of the Passage of the Freedom of Information Act as one of the President’s Priority Measures for the 15th Congress [...]

The secrets of the House of Nograles

BALITA KAY JUAN The secrets of the House of Nograles By MALOU C. MANGAHAS Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism WHAT SECRET or secrets of the House of Representatives under Speaker Prospero Nograles would escape public scrutiny, amid Congress’s failed effort to ratify the Freedom of Information Act last Friday? Many have asked that question after [...]

There was a quorum when FOI bill was killed

BALITA KAY JUAN There was a quorum when FOI bill was killed By ANNIE RUTH SABANGAN and JUSTINE ESPINA-LETARGO Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism FOUR MORE members of the House of Representatives yesterday said they were among those wrongly named as absent – according to a list provided by Speaker Prospero Nograles to the media [...]

“Aquino can issue an executive order practically serving like an FOI in the Executive”

AFTER Friday’s infamous butchering of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill at the House of Representatives, various proposals have emerged on how to fast-track the process of having a regime of complete transparency in place, even as the long legislative route needs to be retaken—yes, even after Congress wasted the 14 years it took to bring that historic FOI law to the final stage.

Removing the veil

BALITA KAY JUAN Removing the veil The Philippine Online Chronicle One of the questions nagging election watchers is why Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III led the polls. Perhaps he was propelled by people’s optimism that the son of two prominent and martyred political figures would yield a President that would advocate government transparency, lead the fight [...]

Photos: A conspiracy of shame and betrayal

BALITA NI JUAN Photos: A conspiracy of shame and betrayal By NOEMI LARDIZABAL DADO Philippine Online Chronicles The people of the Philippines are claiming their constitutional right to access to information on matters of public concern. The bicameral conference committee has reconciled the House and Senate versions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill. There [...]

Absent during roll call

BALITA KAY JUAN Absent during roll call GMANews.TV List of House members absent during the roll call for approval of Freedom of Info bill Faced with heavy criticism for the non-ratification of the Freedom of Information Bill, House Speaker Prospero Nograles on Saturday released the names of 139 congressmen who were either absent or were [...]

Philippines: Freedom of Information Act

BALITA KAY JUAN Philippines: Freedom of Information Act Philippine Center For Investigative Journalism On December 14, 2009, the Senate of the Philippines approved a Freedom of Information Act designed to allow access to key public documents, including those related to projects where corruption has been an issue. The Act, found in Senate Bill No. 3308, [...]

SHAME on NOGRALES and the majority members of 14TH Congress!!!

BALITA KAY JUAN Nograles told: Ratify FOIfor conscience, Constitution! By JAEMARK TORDECELLA Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism With the clock ticking on the 14th Congress, the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition called on members of the House of Representatives to attend the last session day this Friday, June 4, to ratify the Freedom of [...]