PCOO wants oversight agency for freedom of info

The Presidential Communications Operations Office ( PCOO) is pushing for the inclusion of an oversight agency that will monitor and supervise the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI), an official said yesterday.

PCOO Assistant Secretary Michel Kristian Ablan said there is need for an independent office that would ensure compliance by government agencies with the FOI once it is passed.

This was raised following the issuance of Executive Order No. 2 mandating the implementation of FOI, which was signed by President Duterte in July last year.

“Somebody has to be there and ensure that government agencies comply with the FOI manual,” Ablan said in a forum in Quezon City.

The independent body, if given quasi-judicial powers, can serve as third party for public appeal on FOI requests made by the public.

Currently, if the request is denied, the individual can exhaust all ranks in the agencies and it goes to the courts.

“When we go to court, that does not improve the system. The agency can delay everything and the last resort is to go to the courts which will entail costs,” Ablan said.

“But a third party independent office can inform the agency that its denial is wrong and has no basis and that it needs to release that information,” he added.

Ablan stressed the need for the passage of the FOI bill, which has teeth because sanctions currently under the EO are not enough.

“After discussing with our colleagues in the government, our comment is that we still need a law. The EO is not enough because we can only impose administrative liability. On first offense we can reprimand, on second suspension of one to 30 days and third dismissal from service.

But sometimes that is not enough. There needs to be more teeth,” Ablan said.

Despite hailing the EO’s passage, the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition said the administration’s work “is far from over.”

The coalition said some government offices failed to comply with the directive and deadline to provide an FOI manual and identify its responsible officers.

“President Duterte must now, in words and deed, push the passage of the FOI law by his supermajority in both legislative chambers,” the coalition said in a statement.