FOI order out very soon; Task Force vs media killings, too

AN EARLIER declaration by President Rodrigo Duterte that he will push for Freedom of Information (FOI) by starting with the executive department through an executive order will be realized "this week or next week," Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a radio interview with dxRB, Sunday.

"We spoke to the President during the turnover ceremony at the Philippine National Police and reminded him of his promise to the media and to the public. And so, we're drafting it now. We're fine-tuning the executive order, and hopefully we'll be able to announce it this week or next week," Andanar said.

Midnight after elections at Duterte's friend Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy's Kingdom of Jesus in Catitipan, Davao City, when it was already apparent that Duterte will be the next president, he said that he will immediately implement FOI through an executive order (EO) to ensure that it is started right away under his leadership.

"Kung ayaw ng Congress, I will start progressively. Para walang satsat, walang yakyak, day one, basta pataas na, huwag napabalik kasi magulo yan (If Congress refuses to pass such a law, I will start on it progressively. Let's cut to the chase. From day one, although this will not be retroactive since ordering so will create a very chaotic situation). FOI, I will impose it on my department, executive department," Duterte told a group of reporters past midnight of May 10.

FOI has long been a campaign promise and for several elections now, have been among the first bills filed when a new legislative body is sworn into office. But this has never become a law as both House would be find reason to not act on it.

"Unahan ko na. I will issue an executive order. All. Hindi nakailangan ng batas," he said in that May 10 interview.

In the radio interview, Andanar said they are now rushing the EO so that this can be released as soon as possible.

"This is now being drafted by our lawyers in the legal department of the Presidential Communications Office, and even in the Office of the Executive Secretary," Andanar said.

In the same interview, Andanar said they are also working to create a presidential task force against media killings in order to finally put a stop to killings of mediamen and "give members of media peace of mind".

Duterte earned flak from national reports when a reporter specifically

asked him "why mediamen are being killed" and he told the story of why Juan Porras Pala Jr., who has been known to attack private persons in his radio programs for his own gain, was killed in 2003.

"Kung papatayin katalaga papatayin ka. There is no way to know that the next victim would be a journalist. Sa karamihan, prangka-prangka, may nagawayan. Kasi hindi kana man talaga papatayin diyan kung wala kang ginawa," he said as reply to the question of "why".

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