Philippines Congress Stumbles on Freedoms

Departing Philippines Congress Stumbles on Freedom of Information

Freedom of information in the Philippines was dealt a blow on Friday June 4, when its Congress failed to ratify a long-awaited bill to improve access to government and public information.

The IFJ and its affiliate, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), described the decision by the Philippines Congress as a clear betrayal of democracy, and urged the incoming administration of Benigno Aquino to reinstate the bill to the new Congress on its first day, set for June 17.

The Bill has been waiting for 14 years to reach this stage, according to an IFJ mission team visiting the Philippines last week.

“Hopes for improvement to the Philippines press freedom status and citizens’ right to know have now suffered a serious setback,” said IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park.

The IFJ joins the NUJP in calling on the incoming Philippines administration to make the ratification of the Freedom of Information Bill a top priority and take a first step to fulfilling its promises to uphold principles of good governance.

ENDS

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